Ryan Payne, who led tactical training for the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation and is accused of organizing "armed protection'' in a 2014 standoff with federal officers in Nevada, faces a recommended 12 years in prison under plea deals fashioned in both states.

On Tuesday, Payne, 32, entered a guilty plea to the federal charge of conspiracy in Oregon.

Prosecutors have recommended a sentence of three years and five months for Payne's participation in the the Jan. 2 refuge takeover. It would run concurrently with the sentence he'll face in Nevada, Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel said. The second Oregon count of possession of firearms in a federal facility will be dismissed at sentencing.

Under an offer pending in the Nevada case, Payne would plead guilty to three charges, including the use and carrying of a firearm in a crime of violence -- a count that brings a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years. Prosecutors there are recommending a 12-year sentence, but Payne could argue for seven years, according to prosecutors and his lawyers.

The Nevada indictment stems from what authorities have described as the "massive armed assault'' by rancher Cliven Bundy and his co-defendants to thwart federal officers who tried to corral about 400 cattle near the Bundy ranch in April 2014.

With out-of-custody co-defendants Jason Patrick, Jon Ritzheimer and Shawna Cox watching from the courtroom's gallery in Portland, Payne pleaded guilty in the refuge case before U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown.

Gabriel said Payne, 32, a U.S. Army veteran, accompanied Ammon Bundy to Harney County in November and December to meet with Sheriff Dave Ward and present their "redress of grievances.''

Prosecutors alleged in a criminal complaint that the two urged the sheriff to protect Burns-area ranchers Dwight Hammond Jr. and son Steven Hammond from returning to prison on federal arson charges. They both told the sheriff that if the Hammonds spent one more day in jail, there would be "extreme civil unrest,'' the complaint said.

In January, Payne took on a leadership role, coordinating armed guards and providing tactical training of guards during the armed takeover of the bird sanctuary outside Burns, Gabriel said.

On Jan. 26, Payne was riding in the front passenger seat of Robert "LaVoy" Finicum's Dodge Ram truck when state police and FBI agents stopped the pickup as they were traveling on U.S. 395 to a community meeting in John Day.

The prosecutor pointed out that Payne immediately got out of the truck and surrendered to police at the initial stop before Finicum drove further and was fatally shot at a police roadblock.

When Payne was taken into custody, he was armed with a handgun, Gabriel said.

"Mr. Payne complied with law enforcement orders as others did not,'' he said.

Payne's defense lawyer Rich Federico described the Nevada offer as a "contemplated agreement.'' The offer is on the table, he said.

Payne said his decision to plead is based on weighing the pros and cons of going to trial.

"His exposure in Nevada is massive,'' Gabriel noted in court.

Asked if he faced any pressure to take the plea, Payne paused briefly before answering, "No, other than I would say continued detainment which lends a realism to what the future would hold for the rest of my life if I did not take a plea.''

As the judge read the plea petition that Payne signed, he objected to the wording of the charge he was pleading guilty to, specifically that he conspired to impede federal employees at the wildlife refuge through "intimidation, threats and force.'' He had the judge change the "and force" to "or force,'' which the prosecution accepted.

Federico said Payne considers his right to bear arms "sacred,'' and before the refuge takeover, carrying firearms "was part of his regular routine and habit.'' It wasn't as if he suddenly showed up at the refuge and brought a gun, Federico said.

Under the deal, Payne won't be allowed to possess any guns or ammunition. This is his first criminal conviction, he told the court.

Judge Brown asked Payne to describe to the court what he did that makes him guilty.

Payne said he made his first adult decision at age 17 when he decided to join the Army and swore to uphold the U.S. Constitution.

He said he traveled to Harney County also "to uphold and defend the Constitution.''

"In pursuing that, I have come to understand that folks who work for the government perceive my actions as threatening or intimidating,'' Payne said. "I understand myself to be guilty of the charge I am charged with.''

Brown questioned him further on whether he impeded federal officers from doing their work at the refuge?

"As it has been presented to me, I understand that I did , your honor,'' he said.

Payne is expected to be transferred at some time to Nevada to enter guilty pleas and be sentenced there before returning to Oregon to face sentencing, Gabriel said.

Payne is an Iraq War veteran who served in an Army long-range surveillance unit. He has two children and lives in Montana.

He was indicted in Nevada on charges of conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to impede and injure a federal officer, assault on a federal officer, threatening federal law enforcement, four counts of using a firearm in a crime of violence, obstruction of justice and extortion. The indictment alleges he participated in the 2014 standoff near the Bundy ranch in Bunkerville, Nevada.

If convicted in the Nevada case of four counts of using a firearm in a crime of violence, Payne could face the minimum mandatory sentence of seven years, plus 25-year consecutive sentences for each additional crime of violence conviction.

A tentative sentencing date for the refuge case was set for Nov. 18.

Before Tuesday's hearing started, co-defendant Ritzheimer, who sat in the second row of the gallery, asked other attendees sitting in front of him if they were Payne's family. They said no, and asked him, "Are you?''

"Yes,'' Ritzheimer said, smiling and added, "Not by blood.''

Patrick, who was just released from custody last week and faces trial in September, said it was hard for him to watch Payne's plea hearing.

"What I see is a good man compelled to lie because of the conditions they're in,'' Patrick said. "He's an honorable man, so it's disappointing to see that.''

Payne is the eighth defendant to plead guilty to conspiracy among the 26 people indicted on the charge in the refuge occupation. A ninth defendant, Travis Cox, is expected to enter a guilty plea Wednesday.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian