Associated Press - December 1, 2009 1:54 PM ET

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A federal judge has set a trial date for a college student charged with sabotaging an oil & gas lease auction to thwart drilling near Utah's national parks.

Tim DeChristopher's 3-day trial is scheduled to start March 15.

U.S. District Judge Dee Benson picked the date Tuesday in his chambers during a huddle with the defendant, his lawyers and prosecutors.

DeChristopher has acknowledged he didn't have money or the means to pay when he grabbed a bidder's paddle last December at a federal auction to run up prices and win some leases for safekeeping.

The University of Utah student has said the administration of former President George W. Bush violated environmental laws in holding the auction. A federal judge later blocked many of the leases from being issued.

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