Judge grants early end to Oregon refuge occupation architect Ryan Paynes federal supervision – OregonLive

Citing the "interests of justice,'' a federal judge has ended Oregon refuge occupation leader Ryan Paynes federal supervision a year and a half early.

Payne, once described as a pivotal architect of the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, served his prison term of three years and one month and completed half of the three years of supervised release that U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown ordered in March 2018. He received credit for the time he was held in jail after his arrest in late January 2016.

Payne was sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiring to impede federal employees at the wildlife refuge through intimidation, threat or force. He paid his $10,000 restitution in full by Sept. 23

Payne married after getting out of prison, has four children with his wife and one on the way, according to his lawyer Lisa Hay, Oregons federal public defender.

He is head of operations at REM Technologies, a start-up company in Belgrade, Montana. The company is developing a new method of processing raw materials in the metals supply industry. Hes been employed there since August after working as a licensed electrician for another company since his release from custody, according to his lawyer Lisa Hay, Oregons federal public defender.

Mr. Paynes compliant conduct and positive contribution to his community throughout the past 18 months of supervised release demonstrates that further supervision is unnecessary, Hay wrote to the court.

Federal prosecutors did not object. Brown granted Paynes request, effective May 12.

Payne was one of 18 people who either pleaded guilty or were convicted by a jury in the 41-day Malheur refuge occupation in 2016. Prosecutors originally indicted 26 people. Leader Ammon Bundy, brother Ryan Bundy and five others were acquitted of all charges during a trial. The government dropped a conspiracy case against independent broadcaster Pete Santilli.

In January 2018, a federal judge in Nevada dismissed separate conspiracy charges against Payne, Ammon and Ryan Bundy and their father, Cliven Bundy, after she found prosecutors engaged in flagrant misconduct'' and a deliberate attempt to mislead'' and made several misrepresentations to both the defense and the court about evidence. The U.S. Attorneys Office is appealing the dismissal.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

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Judge grants early end to Oregon refuge occupation architect Ryan Paynes federal supervision - OregonLive