Brian Cavalier

Brian Cavalier at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. (Oregonian)

A federal magistrate judge Friday ordered Brian Cavalier, the self-described "personal bodyguard'' for Ammon Bundy, to remain in custody pending trial, but his lawyer promised to appeal the decision next week.

Cavalier's lawyer, Todd Bofferding, portrayed Cavalier as a man who has matured since the 1990s, when he had multiple criminal convictions and didn't comply with probation conditions.

"He's a different man now. He's older. He's matured. He's learned from his errors,'' Bofferding told the court.

But federal prosecutors argued that Cavalier had identified himself as the personal bodyguard of Ammon Bundy and Bundy's parents Cliven and Carol on a video posted on the Internet.

"I am Cliven and Carol's and the family's personal bodyguard,'' he said on the Sept. 9 video, according to a federal complaint

Cavalier, 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada, is one of 16 people indicted this week on a single federal conspiracy charge, accused of impeding federal officers from conducting their work during the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge outside of Burns.

Ammon Bundy led a group of followers to the refuge Jan. 2 and took over the headquarters, refusing to leave and demanding the release of two local ranchers from prison and local control of federal land in Harney County. Four people remain at the refuge.

"Mr. Cavalier's role should give this court pause when assessing any release plan,'' Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Knight said, adding that Cavalier has a very close relationship with the Bundy brothers, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, who are co-defendants, and their father, Cliven Bundy, a Nevada rancher who was involved in a standoff with federal rangers at his ranch in April 2014.

Bofferding said prosecutors were overstating Cavalier's role.

"He's a friend of the family,'' Bofferding said.

Cavalier would be present with the Bundys at different activities, "not necessarily as a bodyguard but as a witness,'' his lawyer said.

"At no time has Mr. Cavalier attempted to exercise strong-arm tactics in defense of anybody,'' Bofferding said.

Cavalier did work as a ranch hand for Cliven Bundy in exchange for room and board for several years, Bofferding said.

He said Cavalier was at the Oregon refuge from the start with Ammon Bundy but by mid-January, he "didn't like what was going on, and went back home.''

Cavalier was arrested on Jan. 11 by Buckeye police in Arizona, stopped riding in a car with a firearm, according to federal documents. He's accused of giving a false name and Social Security number to police, Knight said. A convicted felon, Cavalier isn't supposed to possess guns or be around them, the prosecutor said.

Bofferding said the federal government got the account wrong. Cavalier was a passenger in the vehicle and the gun belonged to someone else. He said Cavalier accidentally mixed up two numbers of his Social Security number but didn't intend to deceive anyone.

At some point, Cavalier returned to the refuge. On Jan. 26, Cavalier was riding with Ammon Bundy in a Jeep headed to a community meeting in John Day, when federal agents and state police stopped them along rural U.S. 395.

"My client said, 'We have to pull over,' and they did,'' Bofferding said.

Cavalier, with his hands up, emerged from the Jeep and got "face down on the cold pavement,'' as instructed, his lawyer said.

"He did what the police told him to do,'' Bofferding said.

Bofferding urged the court to allow Cavalier to live with his mother in Arizona. He said his client, whose neck and arms are covered with tattoos, could find work as a tattoo artist since he has his own tools. He downplayed concerns about Cavalier's aliases, saying "Booda Bear'' is a nickname that his friends call him.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Janice M. Stewart said she wasn't convinced that Cavalier wasn't serving as Ammon Bundy's bodyguard. She also noted that Cavalier's girlfriend was involved in the refuge takeover as an unindicted co-conspirator.

Because of his minimal ties to Arizona, recent arrest and close ties to the Bundys, she said she was "not willing to take a risk,'' and ordered Cavalier to remain in custody.

"I frankly am not convinced he is amenable to comply with conditions of release,'' she said.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian