Oregon Standoff Latest: Score One for the Defense as Judge Dismisses a Count

A significant victory for eight of the defendants in the case stemming from the 41-day armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

U.S. District Judge Anna Brown dismissed the charge of using and carrying firearms in the course of a crime of violence.

She said that the prosecution's contention that the defendants stopped federal workers from doing their job through intimidation and threats of force did not necessarily mean they had had threatened the use of physical force.

The ruling applies to Ammon Bundy, Jon Ritzheimer, Ryan Payne, Ryan Bundy, David Fry, Brian Cavalier, Jason Patrick, and Sean Anderson.

The dismissed charge carried a possible penalty ranging between five years and life in prison.

The trial is set to begin September 7.