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Astoria man takes plea deal, three years probation for macing police at state Capitol protest

Demonstrators break the glass on a door to the Oregon State Capitol during a special legislative session in December 2020. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter)

An Astoria man accused of spraying three Salem police officers with mace during a violent protest at the Oregon Capitol in December 2020 accepted a plea deal Monday and was sentenced to three years of probation.

Ryan Lyles, 43, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree unlawful use of mace and being a felon in possession of body armor in Marion County Circuit Court.

Lyles admitted to discharging mace against Salem Police Department officers Brian Shaw, Albert Hodges and David Smith, according to a petition to enter a plea filed in court.

Lyles was sentenced to three years of probation. If probation is revoked due to a violation, he will be sentenced to a year and half in prison.

Five counts of assaulting a public safety officer, one count of riot and three counts of first-degree unlawful use of ESG, tear gas or mace were dismissed as part of the plea deal, court documents show.

Lyles was one of at least five people arrested by the Oregon State Police for crimes related to the protest. A demonstration organized by Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson brought around 200 people to the Capitol as legislators met in special session. Several demonstrators, demanding the state rescind Covid restrictions, made their way into the Capitol, which at the time was closed to the public.

-Ardeshir Tabrizian