FBI agent found not guilty of lying about Oregon standoff shooting

The Associated Press

August 10, 2018 - 3:14 pm

Arizona rancher and anti-government protestor LaVoy Finicum, center left, speaks during a news conference by the entrance to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, which the group is occupying, near Burns, Ore. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto

In this Jan. 5, 2016 file photo, Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, center, a rancher from Arizona, talks to reporters at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Ore. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

PORTLAND, Ore. — An FBI agent has been found not guilty of lying about firing shots at a militia leader who participated in the armed takeover of an Oregon wildlife refuge.

A jury on Friday returned the verdict on W. Joseph Astarita.

Astarita was charged with making false statements and obstruction of justice after telling investigators he did not fire two shots that missed Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, a key figure in the group that seized the eastern Oregon refuge in 2016 while protesting the imprisonment of two ranchers. Oregon State Police fatally shot Finicum seconds later.

Astarita denied firing the shots.

Federal prosecutors had argued that Astarita was a rookie on the elite Hostage Rescue Team who panicked as Finicum came close to running over his teammate at a police roadblock.

A Los Angeles Police Department officer talks to an occupant inside of his squad car. (Getty Im ...

Infant dead, 9-year-old injured after found on side of Los Angeles freeway

The Associated Press

April 9, 2024 - 9:56 am

Authorities were investigating any connections between the deaths of an infant girl on the shoulder of a busy Los Angeles area freeway and two other deaths.

Bundy sues government over Bunkerville standoff prosecution

By Katelyn Newberg / RJ

October 26, 2023 - 3:42 pm

Ryan Bundy filed a lawsuit this week alleging he was subject to false imprisonment during the failed prosecution of the 2014 armed standoff near Bunkerville

Gold Butte upgrades sought as Bundy’s cows still graze on federal land

By Sabrina Schnur / RJ

November 28, 2022 - 1:00 pm

The Bureau of Land Management is considering improvements to some of the property where Cliven Bundy’s cows graze, six years after it became a national monument.

Ryan Bundy convicted of assault for spitting at store employee

By Katelyn Newberg / RJ

November 1, 2022 - 7:40 pm

Ryan Bundy, son of rancher Cliven Bundy, was convicted of assault this past month for spitting at a Mesquite store employee during the pandemic.

The rise and fall of the Oath Keepers, born in Las Vegas

By Jeff German and Briana Erickson / RJ

September 27, 2022 - 7:54 am

Founder Stewart Rhodes and members were at Bunkerville, and at the center of one of the nation’s boldest attacks on Democracy. Their trial for seditious conspiracy starts today.

Defendant Todd Engel, representing himself, faces the jury during opening statements as U.S. Di ...

Man who served time in Bundy standoff sues federal officials for $100M

By David Ferrara / RJ

September 13, 2021 - 1:49 pm

An Idaho man who served prison time for his role in the 2014 Bunkerville standoff before charges against him were thrown out has sued the federal government for $100 million.

Ammon Bundy, seen in 2017 in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Ammon Bundy running for Idaho governor

The Associated Press

May 21, 2021 - 5:55 pm

Anti-government activist Ammon Bundy is running to be Idahos next governor, according to documents filed Friday with the Secretary of States office.

Emerging extremists bring new concerns for law enforcement

By Jeff German / RJ

February 22, 2021 - 11:36 pm

In Southern Nevada, authorities are aware of the broadening spectrum of extremism, fueled in part by months of COVID-19 isolation and online venting.

Cliven Bundy walks out of the Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse in Las Vegas a free man with his wif ...

Appeals court upholds dismissal of Cliven Bundy case

By David Ferrara / RJ

August 6, 2020 - 7:18 pm

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday upheld a decision to throw out charges against Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy, two of his sons and another man.

Cliven Bundy walks out of Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse in Las Vegas a free man with his wife, C ...

Prosecutor calls dismissal of Bundy case ‘extreme sanction’

By David Ferrara / RJ

May 29, 2020 - 8:50 pm

A prosecutor urged the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday to give the government another chance to pursue charges against rancher Cliven Bundy and others.