Christopher R. Ponte, who started a police watchdog group called Oregon Cop Block and has drawn the ire of local officials for filming the homes of public officials, pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Ponte, 36, admitted that on Jan. 28 he joined co-workers at a U.S. Forest Service campsite off Oregon 224 in Estacada and held and fired three guns that belonged to others -- an Uzi Pro pistol, a shotgun and an AK-47-type assault rifle.

A year earlier, Ponte was convicted of a felony, possession of a stolen motor vehicle, in Clackamas County, and was barred from having or handling guns.

Under a plea deal, prosecutors and Ponte's defense lawyer will recommend that Ponte face a year and one day in prison when he's sentenced in April. The sentence will allow Ponte to have his sentence reduced for good time served.

A Portland police detective started investigating Ponte in July after learning he was pictured on his Facebook page firing a shotgun, according to a federal complaint.

The investigation, which included the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, began around the same time that Portland police Capt. Mark Kruger got a stalking order against Ponte in Washington County after Ponte showed up July 10 at Kruger's house.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian