Prosecutors Get Better Results In Second Oregon Standoff Trial As Jury Convicts All Of At Least One Felony

A jury in federal court in Portland on Friday convicted all four defendants in the second trial to stem from the 41-day armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on at least one count. All of the defendants had been acquitted in the first trial.

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The jury found Jason Patrick and Darryl Thorn guilty of conspiring to impede federal workers from doing their jobs through force, intimidation, or force.

Thorn was also found guilty of having a firearm in a federal facility. Patrick and Ryan, who had also faced the firearm charge, were acquitted on that count.

The other two defendants - Duane Ehmer and Jack Ryan - were acquitted of the conspiracy charge but convicted of damaging government property. The jury found they had used an excvator to dig trenches at the refuge.

United States Attorney Billy Williams praised the jurors for their works.

"Their verdicts speak to their view of the evidence," he said. "I respect the American judicial process and remain convinced it is the best system in the world."

Williams also discussed the line between right of the defendants to exercise freedom of speech and what the government - to some degree - proved they did.

"Freedom of speech and expression are core values and rights that I and others have sworn to protect and uphold," said Williams. "In this case, the defendants were not on trial for their beliefs, but rather for their conduct. Taking up arms and occupying federal lands and property that interferes with federal employees discharging their duties is and will continue to be illegal.

"We cannot have people taking over government offices and facilities at the end of a gun and expect no consequences."

The defendants will be sentenced on May 10.

This story will be updated

Photo Colin Miner