Key Bundy Associate Pleads Guilty in Portland

A key associate of Ammon Bundy's pleaded guilty in federal court in Portland Friday to charges stemming from the 41-day armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Ryan Payne, an army veteran who provided tactical training at Malheur, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.

Payne, who is also charged in federal court in Nevada in connection with armed standoff between Bundy's father, Cliven, and federal officers, is also expected to plead guilty to charges there.

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The charges in Nevada are expected to bring a sentence of between seven and 12 years. Prosecutors in Oregon recommend he be sentenced to three years and five months to be served concurrently with whatever he is sentenced to there.

Payne traveled to Harney County last November where they met with Sheriff Dave Ward, urging him to keep ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond out of prison despite their having had pleaded guilty to federal charges.

"There was a lot of ultimatums and saber rattling," Ward later said of the meeting. "It was made pretty clear to me that if I went along with their agenda, everything would be all right."

At Malheur, he provided leadership and helped train and coordinate armed guards.

Payne was arrested on January 26 as he traveled with Bundy, LaVoy Finicum and others to a community meeting in Grant County.

They were stopped at a roadblock set up Oregon State Police and the FBI.

Payne got out and surrendered.

Finicum kept driving and was shot dead when he reached for a weapon.