Man sentenced to 91 days in RNC protest case

One of the defendants in the RNC 8 conspiracy case reached a plea agreement Friday to settle charges related to the Republican National Convention two years ago.

Erik Oseland, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit criminal damage to property in the third degree, a gross misdemeanor.

Felony charges stemming from activities intended to disrupt the convention were dropped. Oseland was sentenced to 91 days in jail by Ramsey County District Judge Teresa Warner.

Oseland was one of eight defendants known as the RNC 8 who were accused of plotting to disrupt the convention in 2008 in downtown St. Paul. The others are still fighting felony charges and say they're committed to going to trial.

"We are still going forward. All the community is still supporting him," said Melissa Hill with the RNC 8 Defense Committee. "We are still going to be in trial on October 25th, and we still hope to get other people out in supporting these seven defendants for these politically motivated charges."

Oseland declined to comment after the hearing. His attorney, Ted Dooley, said the fact that Oseland does not have to testify against his co-defendants was "pivotal" to taking the deal.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)