Mike Nearman, the Q-Anon/far-right Republican who laid out a plan to a fringe group on how to invade the Oregon state capitol in Salem, has been barred from entering the capitol building or being on the complex grounds for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to assisting protesters gain access to the building in December, the Oregonian reports.

Nearman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of official misconduct in a plea agreement with the Marion County District Attorney’s office.  Prosecutors dropped a second charge of criminal trespassing in exchange for the ban and the plea deal, in which Nearman will perform 80 hours of community service, pay the Legislature $2,700 in restitution, and pay $200 in court fees.

During a riot by right-wing protesters on capitol grounds in December 21st, Nearman left a state legislative session to exit out a backdoor of the building, where protesters had amassed.  The protesters gained access into the building thanks to Nearman holding open two secure doors that were locked.  The protesters were angry over public health restrictions put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nearman was recorded addressing a far-right group a week before the protest, giving them instructions on how to breach the capitol.  He gave them his cell phone number and told them if someone should happen to call or text that number, someone might exit that specific backdoor, through which they could gain access to the building.

All 59 members of state Legislature voted to expel Nearman from the Legislature, a first in the history of Oregon.  He will be eligible to run for office again in 2023.

Nearman sloughed off the impact of the guilty verdict, telling a local conservative radio host, “I really would have preferred to make it go to trial.  The legal bills were stacking up. It made more sense to pay (a fine) and do a little community service, rather than pay twenty or thirty thousand more to attorneys.”