Grand jury indicts 16 people for Oregon wildlife refuge occupation

[jpak]

Source: Washington Post

PORTLAND — A federal grand jury has indicted 16 people for their roles in the Oregon wildlife refuge standoff, charging them all with a count of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States.

The group’s leader, Ammon Bundy, and 15 other people “prevented federal officials from performing their official duties by force, threats and intimidation,” according to a sealed indictment filed Wednesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon and unsealed Thursday. Each person could face up to six years in prison.

In addition to Bundy, his brother, Ryan, and others taken into custody last week in Oregon and Arizona, the indictment also charges the four people still at the refuge.

The indictment came a little more than a week after authorities began arresting people involved in the armed occupation of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and, while taking the group’s leaders into custody, fatally shot one of the most high-profile occupiers.

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Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/02/04/grand-jury-indicts-16-people-for-oregon-wildlife-refuge-occupation/

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[63splitwindow]

1. Hope they remain in custody...

pending a fair trial and appropriate sentence if convicted. Show them how we do things in the United States of America.

[turbinetree]

2. And this is just the beginning for these--------------dead beats.........................

more charges are coming down on them----------------good riddance------------------------no parole, nothing -------------------------------

[uppityperson]

3. This includes the last 4 still making the refuge inaccessible to employees.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. ... also making it inaccessible to we the people who own it. . nt

[brush]

6. Now that the holdouts know that they're indicted, guess we'll see how much longer they stand on . .

their principles.

I'm guessing they'll be coming out soon with their hands up.

[Hoppy]

4. What is a "sealed" indictment?

[PJMcK]

7. Only the prosecutor, grand jury members and the judge know about it

The key quote is this:

"A sealed indictment an indictment that is sealed so that it stays non-public until it is unsealed. This can be done for a number of reasons. It may be unsealed, for example, once the named person is arrested."

Here's the link to the full explanation:

http://definitions.uslegal.com/s/sealed-indictment/

[Geronimoe]

8. It means

defendants didn't know they were under investigation and the case was handed to Grand Jury for determination. Now the indictment can be unsealed and warrants for arrest can be issued.

[JudyM]

9. Better late than never. This will be interesting.

[ffr]

10. Kind of soft charges, but the penalty of up to six years appreciated

Better plan on visiting as many state and national parks as you can this season, just in case they too are raped by these Freedom Patriots or whatever these cowboy hat wearing faces call themselves nowadays.

[63splitwindow]

11. Is there federal "felony murder" doctrine?

If so, maybe it's in the future for the ringleaders.

Also, I would like to see non-participating instigators pursued. Any thoughts on what the potential charges (if any) for them could be?

[SCantiGOP]

12. non-participating instigators are,

I hope, covered under the 1st Amendment right to free speech in most cases.

[63splitwindow]

14. without limit?

18 U.S. Code § 2385 - Advocating overthrow of Government

Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or

Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or

Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—

Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.

If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.

As used in this section, the terms “organizes” and “organize”, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes, and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; July 24, 1956, ch. 678, § 2, 70 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 87–486, June 19, 1962, 76 Stat. 103; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)

[former9thward]

16. Not applicable here.

The events which led to the death of the occupier were separate from the occupation. No felony murder.

[63splitwindow]

18. Depends how broad the definition of "events" is...

in this instance but you are most probably correct. I can see an argument that the take over and all actions in relation thereto, including attending a town meeting discussing same, is the "event" in question.

[alfredo]

13. When they vacate, will they be charge for any damage done?

Did they hack the computers and steal data? Did they disturb protected Native American artifacts?

[fbc]

17. 6 years?????????????????????????

That's a complete joke. They threatened Aaron Schwartz with 35 years and these guys get to start negotiations at 6???

[former9thward]

20. If they are found guilty

and if they do not have previous convictions they will get probation. People here don't like to hear that but under federal sentencing guidelines it is true.

[struggle4progress]

19. Federal grand jury indicts 16 people in Malheur refuge takeover

By Maxine Bernstein | The Oregonian/OregonLive
on February 04, 2016 at 8:31 AM, updated February 04, 2016 at 2:06 PM

... These are the defendants named in the indictments: Ammon Bundy, 40, of Emmett, Idaho; Jon Ritzheimer, 32, of Peoria, Arizona; Joseph O'Shaughnessy, 43, of Cottonwood, Arizona; Ryan Payne, 32, of Anaconda, Montana; Ryan Bundy, of Bunkerville, Nevada; Brian Cavalier,44, of Bunkerville, Nevada; Shawna Cox, 59, of Kanab, Utah; Peter Santilli 50, of Cincinnati; Jason Patrick, 43, of Bonaire, Georgia; Duane Leo Ehmer, 45, of Irrigon; Dylan Anderson; Sean Anderson, 47; David Lee Fry, 27, of Blanchester, Ohio; Jeff Wayne Banta, 46, of Elko, Nevada; Sandra Lynn Pfeifer Anderson, 48; and Kenneth Medenbach, 62, of Crescent ...

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-standoff/2016/02/federal_indictment_against_amm.html

[jpak]

21. TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ

TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ
TAKE...THEIR...GUNZ

yup

[SCantiGOP]

26. Is that you, Obama

Everybody been telling me he was going to take our precious guns. Guess he'll come for my Bible next.

[tabasco]

22. Now let's see some civil complaints

for the cost of damages.

[63splitwindow]

23. Better yet, restitution ordered in a Criminal case...

can be enforced via jail time. Civil judgments can be used as toilet paper by a deadbeat.

[olddad56]

24. the people involved with no criminal records will probably get probation.

just my guess

[63splitwindow]

25. And hopefully the following will be the case with all Defendants

Oregon standoff suspect Jon Ritzheimer denied bail

PHOENIX - An Arizona man charged in the occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge has been ordered jailed until trial after a judge concluded he was at risk of fleeing from authorities and posed a danger to the public.

U.S. Magistrate Eileen Willett explained her decision Thursday by saying Jon Eric Ritzheimer had weapons in his possession when he took part in the standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
...
...

http://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/jon-ritzheimer-update-man-charged-in-oregon-standoff-denied-release-from-jail