A Blanding man pleaded guilty Friday to one felony count of retaliation against a key witness in the expansive Four Corners antiquities-trafficking investigation.

The federal charge against Charles Denton Armstrong, 44, carries a possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

But a plea agreement reached with the U.S. attorney for Utah recommends one year in prison with no fine.

U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups is not obligated to follow the terms of the plea bargain. He said Friday in Salt Lake City's federal court that he would sentence Armstrong on Feb. 1 after a pre-sentence report is prepared by probation authorities.

Armstrong, who is being held in Salt Lake County's main jail, has a criminal record and ties to a California prison gang known as the Bakersfield Crew, and the gang's name is tattooed across the back of his neck.

In court Friday, Armstrong admitted telling investigators he would tie the witness -- an undercover operative who helped in the crackdown on illegal trafficking in American Indian artifacts -- to a tree and beat him with a baseball bat.

A California native, Armstrong had been under the care of Blanding physician James Redd who killed himself the day after he and his wife, Jeanne Redd, were indicted on antiquities-trafficking charges June 10. They were among dozens of defendants charged in the artifacts case.

Armstrong, who was not suspected of

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trafficking in Indian artifacts, allegedly blamed the undercover operative for Redd's suicide and, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, asserted that "he could make one phone call and have the operative taken care of."

After Friday's hearing, Armstrong's court-appointed defense attorney, Lynn Donaldson, said that his client was "heavily medicated" when he made the threat and "no way" would have followed through with it.

"James Redd was his physician," Donaldson said, "and he felt very close to him."

In an interview, Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlie Christensen said federal authorities take threats against witnesses seriously. She added that the plea deal was a "good outcome."

Earlier this year, Jeanne Redd pleaded guilty to seven felonies. On Sept. 16, Waddoups sentenced her to probation and fines. Redd's daughter, Jericca Redd, pleaded guilty to three felonies and also was sentenced to probation.

csmart@sltrib.com

About the case

A June 10 raid -- and the continuing investigation -- netted dozens of people, mostly Utahns, suspected of illegal trafficking in American Indian antiquities. In September, Blanding residents Jeanne and Jericca Redd became the first to be sentenced. They were put on probation. Two other defendants, James Redd and Steven Shrader, committed suicide. Several other defendants are slated for hearings Monday in Salt Lake City's federal court.