2 jailed Hutaree militia members released until trial
Two members of a Michigan-based Hutaree militia who are accused of conspiring to overthrow the government were released from jail today until trial after prosecutors withdrew their efforts to keep them in custody.
David Stone Jr. and Jacob Ward were released to family members after appearing in federal court in Detroit. A third member, Tina Stone, is expected to be released later Tuesday. They must wear electronic monitors and follow strict conditions set by a judge.
"It's a great start," said David Stone Jr.'s defense attorney Todd Shanker. "David Jr. is not a danger to anybody. He's going to work at a nearby farm and he's not going to bother anybody." He will live with his mother Donna Hopejoy.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Falvey Jr. said he dropped his opposition to the release of the three after being assured their freedom would be very limited. The defendants can go to work, see their lawyers and keep medical appointments, but not much else.
"Our (initial) understanding was it was just home detention with a curfew. Our fear was that was not going to limit their movement," Falvey said. "It may be a distinction without a difference. It just wasn't clear to us."
The U.S. attorney's office is appealing a judge's order to release six other militia members charged in the case.
The nine members of the group, called Hutaree, are charged with conspiring to commit sedition, or rebellion, against the government and attempting to use weapons of mass destruction. Prosecutors had argued that all nine should remain in jail pending trial because they were a danger to the public.
Tina Stone and David Stone Jr. are from Lenawee County. Ward is from Huron, Ohio.
"I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. They want to let her out," said Michael Rataj, a lawyer for Tina Stone. "Why they approached me and lawyers for two other defendants, I don't know."
Comments
Lokalisierung
Wed, May 19, 2010 : 3:48 p.m.
Nature of people. They all cried out these people were psychopathic wack jobs and they should be locked up foreveer. Now that the case is getting shown more for what it is, an over reaction by authority figures, no one wants to come in and eat a little crow.
Ricebrnr
Wed, May 19, 2010 : 3:30 p.m.
HEY Ann Arbor.com staff! Where's the update? A 3rd and forth member have been released. And by the by, where's everyone to criticize and denounce the releases and call for more Orwellian measures? Been awful quite in here....
Ricebrnr
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:07 p.m.
FYI also 3 were released today and a fourth will be tomorrow.
Ricebrnr
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 10:02 p.m.
"Todd Shanker is an attorney for David Stone Jr. Shanker believes his client's release is a case of "kicking over the first domino" in the government's case against him. "When they're making an allegation that your client was attempting to overthrow the government, the domino is even more important," Shanker says. "But make no mistake, it's been kicked over. We think this is a great start."" And so it begins to unravel.... "Federal Prosecutors backed off their earlier efforts to keep the four in jail. They says they now believe the bond conditions are enough to keep the militia members in line." Backed off = trying to save face / case? Still say this smells like it sgoing to be expensive to us taxpayers.
Ian
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 5:20 p.m.
With all the manufactured fear by our federal government, people and local law enforcement are far too quick to judge. Never mind there is no evidence. Rule by fear seems to be working perfectly. Just like Nazi Germany.
John Galt
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 4:14 p.m.
Let them all out. The whole thing was a set-up.
Lokalisierung
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 3:15 p.m.
I'm happy they let them out. Prove somehting first before incarcerating people for long periods of time.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Tue, May 18, 2010 : 2:03 p.m.
I'm certain that the law enforcement officers of Lenawee and Hillsdale counties will sleep easy tonight knowing that these people are wearing electronic tethers. Good Night and Good Luck.