8 Hutaree militia members ordered locked up

Post Reply New Topic

A federal magistrate judge today locked up eight members of a Lenawee County militia group pending trial on charges that they conspired to overthrow the U.S. government.

“It is difficult to underestimate the dangers inherent in the crimes charged in this case,” Magistrate Judge Donald Scheer said from his bench in the U.S. District courthouse in Detroit in ordering the seven men and one woman to remain in jail for what their lawyers said could be a two-year wait until trial.

The lawyers, who immediately appealed Scheer’s decision to U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts, said the defendants pose no risk to the public and are not a flight risk to avoid trial. The lawyers said Roberts likely would hear the appeal next week.

But Scheer said they did pose a risk, adding he could find no combination of bond restrictions that would guarantee that they would appear for trial and not pose a risk to the community.

The defendants are: David Stone Sr., 45; his wife, Tina Stone, 44, and his son, Joshua Stone, all of Clayton; Stone’s other son, David Stone Jr., 19 of Adrian; Joshua Clough, 28 of Blissfield; Michael Meeks, 40, of Manchester; Kristopher Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, Ohio, and Jacob Ward, 33 of Huron, Ohio. A ninth defendant, Thomas Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind., was arrested there and is awaiting transfer to Michigan for trial.

A grand jury indictment says the defendants, led by David Stone Sr., belonged to the Hutaree, a Christian militia, and planned to attack local, state and federal law enforcement officers. Prosecutors said they held training exercises and exploded bombs to prepare for battle.

The indictment said they planned to kill a police officer and attack members of the officer’s funeral procession.

The defendants pleaded not guilty and their lawyers disputed the charges during a two-day detention hearing Wednesday and Thursday. The lawyers told Scheer the defendants voiced unfavorable views of the government, but never acted on those beliefs and should be released on bond pending trial, which could be two years off.

Federal prosecutors said they are a threat and should be detained. Agents started arresting them in raids last weekend, saying they were planning an operation for April.

All nine are charged with seditious conspiracy, attempt to use weapons of mass destruction, possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. David Stone Sr. and David Stone Jr. also are charged with teaching/demonstrating use of explosive materials.’

The most serious charge, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Seditious conspiracy and teaching/demonstrating the use of explosive materials carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The firearm possession charges carries a mandatory 5-year prison term

Don't be shocked stuff like this happens in Michigan on a surprising regualar basis,
the SDS, Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization) was founded in our area, and their seminal paper known as the Port Huron Statement was drafted at Lakeport state park, one of their factions Weather Underground did things the Hutaree only fantasize about, by conducting actual terror attacks on the US from 1969- 1981. Terry Nichols is a Michigander, I actually know people who know Terry Nichols.