PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Ammon Bundy, along with 7 other arrested militants, appeared in federal court on Wednesday.
The FBI arrested Ammon Bundy, Ryan C. Bundy, Brian Cavalier, Shawna Cox, Ryan Waylen Payne, Joseph Donald O’Shaughnessy, Peter Santilli and Jon Eric Ritzheimer on probable cause, according to a bureau spokesperson.
Each has been charged with one felony charge of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation or threats.
The United States Attorney’s Office could file additional charges at a later time, criminal defense attorney Kevin Sali said.
The 7 suspects arrested in Oregon appeared before Honorable Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman in U.S. District Court on Wednesday afternoon.
The judge ordered all 7 suspects to remain in jail until at least Friday. She said they are a danger to the community and, with no ties to Oregon, flight risks.
Beckerman set a detention hearing for Friday, giving the defendants a chance to argue for their release pending trial.
Public defender Lisa Hay pressed for the immediate release of her client, Ryan Payne. Hay says Payne has no criminal record, and prosecutors have not alleged he did anything violent.
Prosecutor Geoff Barrow said the risk is that he returns to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to “bunker with his co-conspirators.”
The defendants said little Wednesday. The most expressive was Ryan Bundy, who looked at the press and asked “How are you guys?” when he entered the courtroom.
One of the defense attorneys for Ammon Bundy spoke to the media after the hearing, relaying a message his client had for those still at the refuge.
“Please stand down, please stand down,” he said. “Go home and hug your families. This fight is ours for now, in the courts.”
A federal complaint against all 8 suspects tied to the refuge occupation was unsealed in federal court on Wednesday. The complaint lists reasons for Tuesday night’s arrests, and says the armed group had explosives and night-vision goggles. It says they were prepared to fight.
The document says a source told authorities about the equipment on January 2, when the group took over Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. It’s not clear if officials found explosives or if that’s the reason they moved to make the arrests.
Ritzheimer was arrested in Arizona. He made a brief appearance in federal court on Wednesday. Ritzheimer said “yes, sir” in response to basic questions from the judge in Phoenix. The 32-year-old, wearing a flannel shirt and hiking boots, will stay in jail until a detention hearing next Tuesday.
Sali, who is not representing any of the suspects, spoke to KOIN 6 News on Wednesday and said the first court appearances are usually very brief. He said the defendants will be brought before the judge, she will ask them their true name, they will be advised of the charges filed against them, and a date for a future hearing will be set.
“Nothing about today will be a determination of whether or not they are in fact guilty or not,” Sali said. “It would not surprise me at all, if, for example, if they are prohibited from communicating with each other, prohibited from communicating with other people involved in these sorts of protests or movements.”
He also expects – if the case hasn’t already – to go before a grand jury for consideration of more serious charges.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if you see either broader or more serious charges brought down the line,” Sali said.
Security around the U.S. Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland has visibly increased.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
