2 Washington men among those indicted in connection with occupation of refuge in Oregon

SEATTLE -- Two Washington state men were among those indicted in connection with the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife refuge in Oregon, the Justice Department said.

Among those indicted were Darryl William Thorn, 31, of Marysville, Wash.,  and Eric Lee Flores, 22, of Tulalip, Wash.

Each defendant is charged in the indictment with one felony count of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation, or threats.

A 41-day occupation at a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon ended Thursday when the four remaining protesters surrendered to authorities.

During the 41-day occupation, there were as many as "dozens of highly armed militants occupying, visiting and supplying the refuge," the FBI said.

On February 3, a federal grand jury indicted 16 people, including the four who surrendered, the FBI said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protest led to armed occupation

Ammon Bundy and others started out demonstrating against the sentencing of Dwight Hammond and his son Steven, ranchers who were convicted of arson on federal lands in Oregon.

But a January 2 march supporting the Hammonds led to the armed occupation of the refuge building, with protesters decrying what they call government overreach when it comes to federal lands.

Bundy and other members of his group were arrested during an incident along a highway last month.

At the same time, law enforcement officers shot and killed LaVoy Finicum, one of the protest group's most prominent members.