Kenneth Medenbach, during the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Medenbach was acquitted of all criminal charges stemming from the refuge takeover. But he's on probation for a 2016 illegal camping conviction. He was restricted from leaving the state without prior permission from his probation officer, according to his standby lawyer. (Thomas Boyd|The Oregonian)

Kenneth Medenbach, who was acquitted of all charges in the takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge but remains on probation for a separate illegal camping conviction, was taken into custody this week in Las Vegas after he showed up to attend the closing arguments in the Bunkerville federal conspiracy case.

Medenbach, 64, is restricted from traveling outside Oregon, a condition of his probation from a 2016 illegal camping conviction in federal court in Eugene, according to his lawyer Matthew Schindler.

Medenbach had asked his probation officer if he could travel to attend part of the federal trial in Nevada.

The officer told him no, but he went anyway and was taken into custody on an arrest warrant for a probation violation, according to Schindler and court records.

Medenbach had been scheduled to appear before a federal judge in Eugene later this month to address another dispute regarding the conditions of his probation.

Medenbach was given five years of probation for unlawfully occupying and camping on federal public land in Josephine County in May 2015.

Medenbach's probation officer has concerns about letters Medenbach had sent to members of the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The probation officer wanted any letter Medenbach intended for the federal agencies to be sent directly to Bureau of Land Management Special Agent Jason Curry, Schindler said. Medenbach was expected to argue he had a First Amendment right to send letters to anyone he wished. That April 19 hearing likely will be delayed as it may take some time before Medenbach is returned to Oregon, Schindler said.

Medenbach has a long history of challenging the government's control of land, starting with his 1988 construction of some cabins and an outhouse on five acres of land he bought for $700 northeast of Crescent, without obtaining any permits from Klamath County.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian