IronEyesChaseBISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An American Indian activist arrested along with 73 other Dakota Access oil pipeline opponents for allegedly trespassing on private land is now accused of inciting a riot.

Chase Iron Eyes could face up to five years in prison if convicted on the felony charge. He also faces a misdemeanor count of criminal trespass.

Iron Eyes and the others were arrested Wednesday after setting up teepees on land that authorities say is owned by the pipeline developer. Protesters say they were peacefully assembling on land they believe rightfully belongs to American Indians.

Iron Eyes issued a recorded statement from jail late Thursday. He doesn’t dispute his involvement but says he wasn’t the leader of the effort and had no authority to stop it.

Chase Iron Eyes was a 2016 Democratic candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the At-Large Congressional District of North Dakota.  He lost that bid for Congress.   This is not Iron Eye’s first brush with the law. According to an April 2016 Bismarck Tribune story,  Iron Eyes:

“. . . was charged in June 2002 in Burleigh County District Court with four felony charges: burglary, preventing arrest, theft of property and criminal mischief. . .  he also was charged in federal court with felony possession of stolen firearms that had moved in interstate commerce . . . He served 10 months at the minimum-security Missouri River Correctional Center in Bismarck . . .”