Jury selection begins Tuesday in the federal trial of the four remaining defendants in the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. They mark the second group of occupiers to go to trial in the case.
DEFENDANTS
Jason S. Patrick, 43, of Bonaire, Georgia
Duane L. Ehmer, 46, of Irrigon, Oregon
Darryl W. Thorn, 32, of Marysville, Washington
Jake E. Ryan, 28, of Plains, Montana
CHARGES
Felony counts
All four are charged with conspiracy to impede employees of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service or U.S. Bureau of Land Management from doing their work at the refuge through intimidation, threat or force.
Three of them – Jason Patrick, Jake Ryan and Darryl Thorn — are charged with possessing a firearm in a federal facility.
Two of them – Duane Ehmer and Jake Ryan – are charged with depredation of government property.
Misdemeanor counts
All four are charged with trespassing and tampering with government vehicles and equipment.
Patrick also is charged with destruction and removal of public property.
Ehmer is also charged with removal of government and private property.
THEIR ROLES
Jason Patrick: Prosecutors allege he was one of the organizers of the occupation. On the day of the takeover, Patrick went building to building with a rifle in his hands, they say. He’s also accused of using a government Dodge Durango on the refuge and helping cut and remove part of a barbed-wire fence on the refuge boundary.
Duane Ehmer: He was often seen riding his horse on the refuge property with a pistol on his waistband. He did guard duty and is accused of using a government excavator to dig a trench on the refuge. He’s also accused of taking a maroon pouch that held cash and checks from the Friends of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge as well as refuge gas cards.
Darryl Thorn: He was photographed in the refuge watchtower and pictured at other times with an assault rifle with a bayonet and a double-barrel magazine. He’s also accused of using a refuge front-end loader and ATV during the occupation.
Jake Ryan: A video shows him using an excavator to help dig trenches on the refuge. Ryan told FBI agents he took four guns to the refuge and acquired three more firearms and a tactical vest while at the refuge.
THE CASE
— The jury will issue verdicts on the felony charges.
— U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown will issue verdicts on misdemeanors.
— Maxine Bernstein
mbernstein@oregonian.com
503-221-8212
@maxoregonian
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