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Prosecutors tacked on multiple counts against the alleged occupiers of Eastern Oregon's Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday, with three Utahns among the 26 defendants now named.

The superseding indictment was filed Wednesday in Portland's U.S. District Court, where Kanab's Shawna Cox, Provo's Dylan Wade Anderson and Manti's Wesley Kjar now stand charged with not only conspiracy to impede officers of the U.S. but are also among 19 charged with possession of firearms and dangerous weapons in federal facilities.

The new charges come as the government cracks down on armed standoffs in a long-running dispute over management of public lands in the Western U.S. Federal authorities have charged Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and several others in recent months with conspiracy, assault and threats in a 2014 armed standoff over grazing rights near the patriarch's Nevada ranch.

In a packed courtroom in Portland, the Bundy's sons Ammon, Ryan and 24 other defendants pleaded not guilty to the new allegations Wednesday. All 26 were previously charged with conspiracy to impede officers of the United States.

Ammon Bundy's attorneys told the judge that he wanted to be advised of his rights. U.S. District Court Judge Anna Brown denied the request, noting that they were read at three prior court appearances.

"I know I have no rights, so thank you," Bundy said.

Nine defendants are further charged with use and carry of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence: Ammon Bundy, Jon Ritzheimer, Ryan Payne, Ryan Bundy, Brian Cavalier, Jason Patrick, Sean Anderson, David Lee Fry and Corey Lequieu.

Kenneth Medenbach is charged with theft of government property for stealing a 2012 Ford F-350 truck from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Ritzheimer and Ryan Bundy face the same charge for theft of cameras and other equipment.

Sean Anderson faces a count of depredation of government property for use of heavy equipment that caused damage on an archaeological site considered sacred to the Burns Paiute Tribe.

One name was redacted from the updated indictment.

The judge scrapped an April trial date, agreeing with prosecutors to designate the case as "complex." The move ends the right to a speedy trial sought by the defendants. The judge cited the volume of evidence and number of defendants.

"I think any person looking at this room would have to concede this case is complex," said Brown, peering down at three rows of tables filled with men in prison garb and their defense attorneys.

Brown said she would wait until next month to schedule a date.

The 41-day occupation began Jan. 1 after a protest in Burns, Ore., to support Harney County ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond, who were ordered to return to prison to fulfill a mandatory minimum sentence for a series of fires on BLM lands.

Tuesday, a county prosecutor concluded that Oregon police were justified in shooting Arizona rancher Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, a key figure in the standoff who died during a Jan. 26 traffic stop that also led to the arrests of the Bundy brothers and others.

However, FBI agents are under investigation for failing to disclose they fired two shots at Finicum, both of which missed. —

Also

Dave Bundy, one of the Bundy ranching brothers, will remain in jail pending trial, a judge ruled Wednesday. › B6