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Occupiers plead not guilty to federal charge

Posted at 6:39 AM, Feb 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-12 19:09:30-05

The four armed occupiers who were the last to leave a national wildlife refuge in Oregon have pleaded not guilty to a federal felony charge.

David Fry of Ohio, Jeff Banta of Nevada, and married couple Sean and Sandy Anderson of Idaho appeared Friday in federal court in Portland. They surrendered Thursday, ending the standoff over federal land policy that began Jan. 2 at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

They entered their pleas to a charge of conspiracy to impede employees at the refuge from performing their duties. A judge set an April 19 trial date.

A Nevada lawmaker who helped convince the holdouts to turn themselves in was in the courtroom. Assemblywoman Michele Fiore waved to the four.