Sixteen people connected to the armed occupation of federal land near Burns, Ore., were indicted Wednesday, according to state prosecutors.
A grand jury returned the decision Wednesday evening, but the U.S. attorney general’s office in Portland would not specify the charges against the men and women in custody.
The prosecution told reporters details on the charges will be released to the public soon.
Eleven of the 16 had previously been charged with conspiracy to impede federal officers.
More than one month ago, a group of ranchers and concerned citizens launched a protest near the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge that quickly escalated into a “sit-in” on the federal property. Since the occupiers were armed, the local sheriff’s department and federal agents chose not to raid the property because of the safety risk.
