Hutaree Member Enters Guilty Plea

A member of a Michigan militia accused of plotting sedition has pleaded guilty to a firearms charge.
Joshua Clough  says he was a member of a group calling itself the Hutaree and participated in military-style training.
WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter talked about Clough’s plea deal with the Hutaree member’s attorney…Randall Roberts.

Joshua Clough

Appeals Court Refuses To Release Five Hutaree Members

A federal appeals court is ordering that five members of a Michigan-based militia remain in custody without bond pending trial. As WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter reports…the appeals panel found the members of a group calling itself the Hutaree (hoo-TARR-ee) could pose a danger to the public…
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Federal authorities accuse nine Hutaree members of plotting to incite an uprising against the government…and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction.

But a federal judge in Detroit ruled that the government’s evidence against the Hutaree members did not rise to a level that would prevent them from being released to home detention with electronic tethers. Four of the members have been released pending trial.

Now a federal appeals court has agreed with prosecutors that the other five members should remain incarcerated.

The court’s majority opinion held that each of the five still pose a danger that cannot be erased by any conditions placed on their release.

One appeals judge differed from the majority…noting that there is no evidence the Hutaree members had taken any concrete steps to commit the crimes they are accused of.

Federal Appeals Court Rules May Must Remain Incarcerated (audio)

A federal appeals court has ruled that members of a Michigan-based militia must remain incarcerated pending a decision on their bond. WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter has more.
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Federal authorities charged members of a group calling itself the Hutaree with plotting to kill law enforcement officials as a way to incite an uprising against the government.

The government fought efforts to release the Hutaree on bond…then fought to keep them incarcerated while an appeals court weighed whether to release them on bond.

Now the U-S Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has ordered that the Hutaree members remain in custody until a final decision on bond is made.

That counters an initial ruling by a U-S district judge in Detroit…who found that the government had not adequately proven the defendants posed either a danger or a flight risk.

But the district judge put a stay on her order to release the militia members on bond…until the appeals court made its ruling.Hutaree0510

Government Blocks Release Of Hutaree (audio)

The federal government has blocked the release on bond of members of a Michigan-based militia accused of sedition. WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter has more…
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Federal prosecutors say members of the Hutaree planned to kill law enforcement officials…then retreat to safe areas and await a groundswell against the government. But the judge in the case ruled that the government had not proven the Hutaree members posed an immediate threat…and ordered them released on bond. The government appealed. Then the judge ordered the Hutaree be freed until the appeal was decided. The government blocked that release as well…only moments before the defendants were set to be released on bond. But Defense attorney Michael Rataj says the bond conditions set by the judge are sufficient to safeguard the public.

RITAJ: “They’re gonna be on a short leash…everybody knows that. And the government right now I believe is desperate. But y’know…they do have the right to file the appeal and that’s what they’ve done…so we’ll respond.”

Prosecutors have argued that the Hutaree weighed the idea of killing a law enforcement official…then bombing those later attending the funeral. The government attorneys now note that a similar funeral will be held this weekend for a Detroit police officer killed in the line of duty.HutareeStay0506-2

Hutaree Remain In Custody As Government Appeals Release

Members of a Michigan militia charged with sedition will remain in custody…while the federal government appeals an order to release them. As WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter reports…federal prosecutors say the militia members still pose a threat.
SOQ

Federal officials accuse nine members of a group calling itself the Hutaree with plotting to kill police and overthrow the government.

But a federal judge ruled the government had not provided sufficient evidence that the militia members were actively taking steps to launch an attack.

The judge ruled that the defendants be released on bond…though with numerous conditions including that they wear electronic tethers and surrender any firearms.

Federal prosecutors counter that agents stopped the Hutaree before anyone could get hurt…and the members still present a danger.

The government is appealing the release order…and requesting that the judge keep the Hutaree members incarcerated until a court decides whether to overturn the bond decision.

Hutaree Members Released On Bond (audio)

A federal judge has freed on bond nine members of a Michigan-based militia accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
As WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter reports…the judge ruled federal prosecutors failed to prove the militia members pose an immediate danger.
SOQ

Federal officials charged members of a group calling itself the Hutaree with sedition – actively plotting to wage war against the government.

The judge ruled that sedition means the group was ready to take imminent violent action. But the judge agreed with defense attorney Michael Ritaj…who says the government presented no evidence to support such a charge.

“Clearly there was no imminent plan to go out and to kill a police officer or to do anything that could be remotely considered an attempt to overthrow the government.”

The judge noted that the Hutaree members surrendered peacefully to law enforcement agents…including a member who had access to half-a-dozen firearms.

The militia members will be required to wear electronic tethers…and are forbidden from buying or carrying guns. The government may still appeal the judge’s ruling.HutareeBond0503

Testimony Continues In Hutaree Bond Hearing (audio)

Testimony is scheduled to continue Wednesday in a hearing to determine whether members of a Michigan militia charged with sedition…should be allowed to go free on bond. WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter has more…

Federal officials accuse nine members of a group calling themselves the Hutaree with planning to kill law enforcement officers…then await a general uprising against the government.

Officials base the charges in large part on information from an undercover informant. Defense attorneys were granted the chance to cross-examine the FBI agent in charge of the Hutaree case…Leslie Larsen.

But Larsen repeatedly told lawyers she wasn’t sure of some details involving what the defendants did or said…and noted that she had only been told she would be testifying hours before the hearing.

That left defense attorney Christopher Seikaly with little information to cross-examine.

“Well you heard the agent say that they called her…they needed a body so she was the body. We were expecting an agent that knew what was going on.”

Federal prosecutors said in court they were not sure if the judge in the case would force the agent to testify…because they had filed concerns over procedural issues they thought might cause a delay.

The bond hearing resumes with prosecutors preparing to examine the parents of the defendants…who say they will serve as third-party custodians if the Hutaree members are granted bail.Hutaree Bond

Testimony To Continue In Hutaree Bond Hearing

Testimony is scheduled to continue Wednesday in a hearing to determine whether members of a Michigan militia charged with sedition…should be allowed to go free on bond. WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter has more…

Federal officials accuse nine members of a group calling themselves the Hutaree with planning to kill law enforcement officers…then await a general uprising against the government.

Officials base the charges in large part on information from an undercover informant. Defense attorneys were granted the chance to cross-examine the FBI agent in charge of the Hutaree case…Leslie Larsen.

But Larsen repeatedly told lawyers she wasn’t sure of some details involving what the defendants did or said…and noted that she had only been told she would be testifying hours before the hearing.

That left defense attorney Christopher Seikaly with little information to cross-examine.

“Well you heard the agent say that they called her…they needed a body so she was the body. We were expecting an agent that knew what was going on.”

Federal prosecutors said in court they were not sure if the judge in the case would force the agent to testify…because they had filed concerns over procedural issues they thought might cause a delay.

The bond hearing resumes with prosecutors preparing to examine the parents of the defendants…who say they will serve as third-party custodians if the Hutaree members are granted bail.

Federal Officials Release Evidence Against Hutaree Members

Federal officials are releasing evidence they say demands the continued incarceration of members of a Michigan-based militia.

WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter has more…

Federal agents arrested nine members of a self-described Christian militia group calling itself the Hutaree…on charges of sedition and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction.

As part of an effort to deny the Hutaree members bond…the government used secretly-recorded tapes of the group’s leader – David Stone – practicing a speech.

In the tapes a voice identified as Stone’s threatens to kill not only police officers but also their spouses and children.
Prosecutors used the recording and other evidence to successfully argue that Stone and the other defendants should be detained in federal custody until they go to trial.

Defense attorneys for the Hutaree members say their clients were exercising their right to free speech…and pose neither a danger to the community nor a flight risk.

A hearing to consider appeals of the detention order is set for the end of the month…but may change because of a scheduling conflict.

Federal officials are releasing evidence they say demands the continued incarceration of members of a Michigan-based militia.
WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter has more…

Federal agents arrested nine members of a self-described Christian militia group calling itself the Hutaree…on charges of sedition and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction.

As part of an effort to deny the Hutaree members bond…the government used secretly-recorded tapes of the group’s leader – David Stone – practicing a speech.

In the tapes a voice identified as Stone’s threatens to kill not only police officers but also their spouses and children.

Prosecutors used the recording and other evidence to successfully argue that Stone and the other defendants should be detained in federal custody until they go to trial.

Defense attorneys for the Hutaree members say their clients were exercising their right to free speech…and pose neither a danger to the community nor a flight risk.

A hearing to consider appeals of the detention order is set for the end of the month…but may change because of a scheduling conflict.

Judge Orders Hutaree Members Held Without Bond (audio)

A federal judge in Detroit is ordering members of a self-described “Christian militia” held without bond until their trials.

As WDET’s Quinn Klinefelter reports…defense attorneys in the case are appealing the order.
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Federal officials accuse nine members of a group calling itself Hutaree with sedition and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction…among other charges.

The allegations are based on information from an undercover informant.

But defense attorneys say it is unfair to keep their clients in custody based on statements read in court ostensibly from an undercover agent who they have been unable to cross-examine.

Federal agents say the Hutaree members planned to assassinate police officers…then retreat to safe areas and await a general uprising against the government.

The federal judge in the case says the dangers inherent in the crimes attributed to the defendants are such that they should not be freed…until their guilt or innocence can be established.
Hutaree Held Without Bond