Refuge occupier Eric Lee Flores pleads guilty to conspiracy

PORTLAND – A young member of the group that occupied a national wildlife refuge in Oregon has accepted a plea deal that might keep him out of prison.

Eric Lee Flores pleaded guilty Thursday to conspiracy to impede officers of the United States.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Dec. 8. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel said prosecutors will recommend six months of home detention.

The 22-year-old Flores is a member of the Tulalip Tribes north of Seattle. He admitted traveling to Oregon with seven firearms and performing guard duty during the occupation led by Ammon Bundy.

The occupiers wanted the federal government to relinquish public lands to locals and free two ranchers imprisoned for setting fires.

A September trial has been set for Bundy and 23 other occupiers.