Oregon Standoff Latest: 11th Defendant Pleads Guilty

Jon Ritzheimer, who provided security to Ammon and Ryan Bundy during the 41-day armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, became the 11th defendant to plead guilty to charges stemming from the incident.

Ritzheimer, who had been under house arrest in Arizona where he lives, appeared in federal court in Portland on Monday to admit to his role in the takeover — pleading guilty to one count of conspiring to impede federal officers through intimidation, threats or force.

Fifteen others are still charged. Seven, including the Bundy brothers, are scheduled to go on trial in September, and the other eight are scheduled to go on trial on Feb. 14, 2017.

Ritzheimer, who arrived at the refuge on Jan. 2, told the judge the refuge was seized to protest government overreach and the re-sentencing of ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond on federal arson charges.

He left the refuge to return to Arizona on Jan. 24 — two days before the Bundys and several others were arrested at a traffic stop as they headed to John Day for a community meeting.

It was during that traffic stop that LaVoy Finicum, another associate of the Bundys, was shot and killed as he ran from a truck and appeared to reach for a gun, which was recovered.

Ritzheimer surrendered to authorities in Phoenix that night and was transported back to Oregon.

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