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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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Guns take center stage in Oregon refuge standoff trial

Prosecutors hoping jury will feel the threat they say federal workers faced

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PORTLAND — Prosecutors began the final day of their case against seven occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge with a gun show — entering 22 long guns and 12 handguns found on the refuge into evidence, along with thousands of ammunition rounds.

FBI agents testified the guns were recovered from the West Encampment, an area on the far edge of the refuge headquarters known among occupiers as “Camp Finicum.”

The agents handled the weapons one by one, presenting them to the jurors before placing them on a legal crate near the jury box. Agents identified each gun as it was presented to the jury, testifying about where it was found and whether it was loaded.

Among the guns presented was a Savage Arms model .300 Winchester Magnum registered to Ammon Bundy. Agents testified the weapon was recovered from the front seat of occupier David Fry’s car. Fry was the last occupant to surrender.

Matt Schindler, the attorney representing defendant Kenneth Medenbach, objected to the prosecution’s attempt to present ammunition as evidence, arguing that at a certain point, everyone in the courtroom can agree without testimony that there was ammo at the refuge. Judge Anna Brown allowed prosecutors to present the ammunition to jurors.

The firepower display was part of the prosecution’s attempt to prove that the defendants impeded federal employees from doing their job through the use of force, intimidation or threats. Government lawyers had already shown jurors photos and videos of weapons at the occupation.

The prosecution has argued in the trial so far that this was not a peaceful protest. The government is hoping the volume of weapons and ammunition, as well as the types of guns recovered, will illustrate that to the jury.

The defense was expected to begin making its case Wednesday morning.

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