FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Haley Mckey, 202-772-0247 hmckey@defenders.org
PORTLAND, Ore. (March 10, 2017) — A federal jury has convicted occupiers Jason Patrick and Darryl Thorn on felony conspiracy charges for their roles in the 2016 armed takeover of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. Defendants Duane Ehmer and Jake Ryan were acquitted of conspiracy, but both were convicted on lesser charges of depredation of government property.
The following is a statement from Defenders of Wildlife President and CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark:
“Defenders of Wildlife is glad that justice was finally obtained in this case. The occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was a direct assault on the integrity of the National Wildlife Refuge System and put the lives of federal employees at risk. The jury’s verdict ensures that serious crime against our public lands and federal employees will not go unpunished.”
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Defenders of Wildlife is celebrating 75 years of protecting all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With a nationwide network of nearly 2.2 million members and activists, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. For more information, visit defenders.org/newsroom and follow us on Twitter @Defenders.
