One of the nine people indicted after the June 11 Spokane immigration protests pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday for felony conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer.

Mikki Hatfield pleaded guilty in exchange for deferring sentencing for 18 months. The U.S. Department of Justice offered a plea deal that allows Hatfield to swap the felony plea for a misdemeanor if he can stay out of trouble until then. If not, the difference could amount to serving six years in federal prison.

The case stems from a June 11 [**protest**](https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_89b7bcb8-a01c-4b95-a7cc-175a742a1d4f.html) at a U.S. Department of Homeland Security facility in Spokane.

Local law enforcement arrested dozens of protesters for failure to disperse during and after that event, including former Spokane City Council President [**Ben Stuckart**](https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_94b460a4-4fe4-4054-9293-0caa7f855911.html). Some face felony charges, but Spokane [**dismissed**](https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_ad4499a3-bb6f-46d2-8fe9-5de4598983b7.html) the misdemeanors for failure to disperse a few months ago following the federal [**indictment**](https://www.thecentersquare.com/washington/article_145624bd-5c82-4e4a-aeca-565141125838.html).

“Basically, we punt for 18 months,” Hatfield’s attorney, Nick Vieth, told The Center Square. “As long as Mr. Hatfield does well on pretrial release and his supervision and his conditions, and he doesn’t violate any of those conditions, then we’ll be back in 18 months, where we will move to withdraw \[this felony plea\]. 

Hatfield is the first of the nine protesters indicted last summer to plead guilty. Many were scheduled to go to trial next spring, but recently requested change-of-plea hearings. Vieth said he worked with two U.S. attorneys on the deal for months. Stuckart and others may consider similar plea deals next week.

Spokane protester pleads guilty to felony in exchange for plea deal with feds