[2] A total of 27 people were charged under federal law with a variety of offenses, including a single count of felony conspiracy.

"[112] Cliven Bundy has frequently made references to the Book of Mormon in his conflicts with the United States government for years.

According to Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), during the family's 2014 standoff, Bundy used banners quoting Captain Moroni: "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.

"[113] Ammon Bundy used much of the same language as his father, "mixing Mormon religious symbolism with a disgust of the federal government," according to OPB reporter John Sepulvado.

One member of Ammon's militant group refused to give any other name to the press than "Captain Moroni, from Utah"[114] and was quoted as saying, "I didn't come here to shoot I came here to die.

[10] A number of those under indictment on the conspiracy charge are also charged with a variety of other counts, some of which incur sentences up to life imprisonment, including possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in federal facilities, use and carry of firearms in relation to a crime of violence, depredation of government property (relating to damaging the site "by means of excavation and the use of heavy equipment"), and theft of government property.

Ammon Bundy stood in court and explained the motives of the occupation to U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman, saying that "[his] only goal from the beginning was to protect freedom for the people."

"[161] During her home detention, she made online statements about the case and urged people to travel to Montana and provide shelter for militant Jake Edward Ryan, who had been on the run from federal authorities at the time.

[164] She was released after U.S. Magistrate Judge Janice M. Stewart ruled that she is not a flight risk because she has no criminal history and has held a steady job.

[165] Ten of the jailed militants, including Ammon Bundy, appeared in court on February 24, when U.S. District Judge Anna J.

[168] On March 29, a federal judge lifted Shawna Cox's home detention and replaced it with a curfew under the condition that she not make any public comments regarding the case.

Under a plea bargain, Willingham will face six months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and he also agreed to undergo a mental health evaluation and pay an unspecified amount of restitution to the U.S.

Prosecutors opposed the motion on the basis of previous attempts by the men to avoid arrest, and commented on the recent ejection of Darryl Thorn from a Donald Trump rally while on similar terms of release.

[173][174] On June 9, Eric Lee Flores pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge as part of a plea bargain deal.

Brown dismissed one of two firearms charges against the Bundy brothers, David Fry, Jon Ritzheimer, Ryan Payne, Brian Cavalier, Jason Patrick, and Sean Anderson.

She cited that the underlying conspiracy charge does not meet the legal definition of a "crime of violence" as defined by Ninth Circuit case law.

The lawyers also asked the court to "allow Bundy another two months to argue for his release pending trial and to help prepare his defense to challenge the federal charges.

"[178][179] This latest action prompted Bundy's brother Ryan and other militants, on July 1, to file similar motions asking for delays in their trials.

[185] That same day, Kenneth Medenbach was sentenced to five years' probation for unlawfully occupying and camping on federal public land in Josephine County, Oregon, in 2015.

[144] On August 22, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Jones admonished Duane Ehmer for writing a threatening post against liberal Democrats on Facebook, which has since been deleted.

[188] Also on August 30, David Fry's lawyer announced his intention to argue that his client suffers from schizotypal personality disorder, claiming that he had been quiet and mostly kept to himself at the refuge during the occupation until the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum.

Denying the motion on grounds that the Bundys not showing their attire would prejudice their case, Judge Brown said Ammon was "dressed better than most people in the building, period.

[12][13][145] On August 3, about 1,500 potential jurors were summoned and asked to complete questionnaires that would be reviewed by the attorneys and parties involved in the September 7, 2016, trials.

He also said he traveled to the refuge on January 25 to help bring attention to the Hammond arson case, an issue raised by the militants during the occupation's first days.

[199] On September 14, Sheriff David Ward, who was the lead local law enforcement official during the occupation, was the first to testify against the militants.

Though the conspiracy charge carried a maximum of six years' imprisonment, his sentencing was recommended by prosecutors as part of the plea bargain deal he reached, and decided after the government considered the fact that Lequieu was the first militant to take responsibility.