Decision on whether Hutaree members should remain jailed is expected Wednesday
A federal judge is expected to decide Wednesday whether nine members of the Hutaree militia group accused of plotting to kill cops will remain jailed as they await trial.
Defense attorneys called FBI Special Agent Leslie Larsen to the stand this afternoon in federal court in Detroit as they sought to prove their clients aren't a flight risk or danger to the community.
Bridgewater Township resident Michael Meeks and eight other Hutaree members were ordered detained pending trial, but U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts heard appeals today.
Michael Meeks
Roberts is expected to issue a ruling at the end of Wednesday's 1:30 p.m. hearing.
Larsen, who is the lead investigator in the case, said no bombs or explosives were found when agents executed search warrants at Meeks’ home in Bridgewater Township or his vacation cottage in Norvell. Larsen said she has no information that Meeks possessed illegal guns.Â
In addition, Larsen said Meeks did not resist arrest March 27 during an FBI raid at a phony memorial service at an Ann Arbor warehouse, where five Hutaree members were arrested. Meeks signed a Miranda waiver and gave a statement to the FBI, she said. Those details came as Larsen was questioned by Meeks' attorney, Mark Satawa.
Meeks and the other Hutaree members are accused of conspiring to levy war against the United States. Among other allegations, investigators say members discussed killing a cop, then attacking the funeral procession motorcade with homemade bombs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Waterstreet played a recording in court that was made secretly on Feb. 20, in which Hutaree members can be heard joking about killing cops.
Various members can be heard talking about "killing cops on a mass basis," burning their houses down or shooting a cop from a distance.
Attorney James Thomas, who is representing indicted Hutaree member Joshua Stone, pointed out laughter on the recording and a "little bit of fantasy" with a mention of Chinese troops.
Larsen acknowledged there may have been some fantasy, but said she heard discussion about killing police officers.
"I don't think you can joke around about that," she said.
Attorney Mike Rataj, who is representing Tina Stone, who also was indicted, told reporters after the hearing that people are in shackles for "basically criticizing the government."
"This is a very scary case," he said.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 or email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
bedrog
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 2:40 p.m.
ian...re your as ever insightful latest: im hanging my head in shame at my approval of all the 'innocent' taliban /al qaida-niks droned...and will be retroactively returning my doctorate and 30 professorial years as they are clear indications of my "intellectual incapacity". and i hereby volunteeer for YOUR presidential campaign ( or will there even BE a country /president under your/huttareeista vision of the ideal world? or maybe just warring tribes,dressed in camo...??... as to whether or not ive been personally harmed by militas, you score again! because ive not been personally kiddy-fiddled by a priest, never invested with madoff, and havn't yet been suicide bombed, by all means let's give 'em all a pass!!
Ian
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 10:07 a.m.
This basically proves you've been brainwashed. Ask yourself, what has the Hutaree or the militia done to you and this country? Nothing. All they seek is freedom and the right to protect themselves. What has our government done to you? Let's see, two illegal wars, bank bailout scam, torturing innocent people, imprisoning innocent people without a trial, killing innocent people with drones, framing innocent people and putting them in jail, bankrupting this country so you and your children will be saddled with trillions in debt, ruined our educational system, increased obesity through bad food policies (allowing use of chemicals in our foods like MSG, aspartame, etc.). These are only a few of many issues with our government. I've left out all the ones you do not have the capacity to understand.
bedrog
Thu, Apr 29, 2010 : 9:46 a.m.
ian...better a "big brother" who has been ELECTED after open public debate and scrutiny ( or a big brother " mainstream media" who has gone to journalism school and learned some ethics and methods of fact finding ) than a bunch of crazed siblings ( or their web thread supporters) running around in rambo suits, taking the law into their own hands based on internet/FOX calumnies and delusions....
Ian
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 10:02 p.m.
@bedrog It is amazing how people jump to conclusions based on what the Feds tell them. Not based on any evidence. Falling victim again to propaganda. What Judge Roberts is saying is what I've been saying all morning and ever since these nine people were framed. Judge Roberts, quote, " A federal judge challenged prosecutors Wednesday to show that nine members of a Michigan militia accused of plotting war against the government had done more than just talk and should remain locked up." "The judge suggested she didn't hear or read in the transcripts any indication that violence was imminent." ""Mere presence where a crime may be planned is not a crime.... How does this add up to seditious conspiracy?" Roberts said." Arthur Weiss, a lawyer for Thomas Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind., said disgust with the government as recorded by the undercover agent is similar to what's said daily by radio and TV talk-show hosts Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. "Millions of people" are talking about "taking our country back," Weiss said. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jhK5VTvnp2Kc1AwCg9DlHUh3xnfAD9FCD8HO0 How gullible can people be. You rely far too much on big brother to tell you what you should and shouldn't believe. Orwellian!
bedrog
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 3:06 p.m.
from several of the comments on this thread, particularly the one about the "right" to threaten murder "all you want",the raid didnt go far enough... at least as far as "persons of interest" in an era of runaway fanaticism are concerned. creepy!!
Lokalisierung
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 2:26 p.m.
"Larsen acknowledged there may have been some fantasy, but said she heard discussion about killing police officers. "I don't think you can joke around about that," she said." Really? Sure, why would governemnt officials know anything about free speech. police officers are not the President, you can talk about killing them all you want.
mi4198
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 2:09 p.m.
10 million dollars cash. no 10%. They only asked to be granted bond not a reasonable one.
Lokalisierung
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 12:45 p.m.
Let them out. Goverment is already gunna railroad them into decades/life in prison. Let them have some fun first.
bedrog
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 12:15 p.m.
ian..thanks for your latest. its clear that any real evidence that does not accord with your worldview will be dicounted by you... might i suppose that you also disbelieve in evolution because dinosaurs didnt make home movies?? ( or used a film developer that you regard as suspect??). again thank god others with actual responsibility for the social weal are more grounded.
annarbor
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 11:31 a.m.
@ Ian. Using your logic, any person convicted of conspiring to commit murder should be released? Wife hires a hitman to knock off her husband. The hitman is an undercover cop. Cop has the wife arrested for conspiracy, but because it was a cop reporting the incident the testimony is inadmissable? They honestly don't have to wait until the act is committed to arrest them and charge them with conspiracy. Having an undercover agent infiltrate the group,and then having him tape and report on plans to kill cops is enough probable cause to warrant an arrest on conspiracy. The Hutaree group had the means and the motive to execute a slaughter of law enforcement officers. For that alone they should remain locked up until their trial.
Ian
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 11:02 a.m.
@bedrog "what's illegal...thank god...is acting, or imminently preparing to act," Where is the EVIDENCE! Hearsay from a FBI informant is not evidence. Particularly since witnesses say there was NOTHING going on. To try to make these guys into warriors that will take over Washtenaw and two other counties is laughable and people actually fell for this gross exaggeration. So gullible. bedrog, you want to buy a bridge?
bedrog
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 10:05 a.m.
@ ian...no! thought is not illegal and never was...you seem to believe anything you read on the internet dont you? what's illegal...thank god...is acting, or imminently preparing to act, on particularly wacky and violent thoughts...(which the internet seems to foster among the community of knee-jerk government hatas, "black helicopter" types and 9/11 conspiracy theorists...who are all pretty much the same folks,as your past ( and no doubt future) posts will indicate..
TreeTownGal
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 8:53 a.m.
I wouldn't want any of these members donning their camouflage and heading for the woods to engage in another "come get me" scenario, because this is their ideal dream come true. They should stay incarcerated.
Ian
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 7:44 a.m.
Thought is illegal now? I guess George Orwell's "1984" is coming true thanks to the frightened and gullible public.
bedrog
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 5:51 a.m.
chill, bill....given the thoughts of some i'm more worried about them than the 'government' ( although it is true that allowing fanatics unfettered freedom of expression can be a useful tool in heading them off...it worked here!
Bill
Wed, Apr 28, 2010 : 12:06 a.m.
I'm afraid to comment. I might get arrested by the thought police. Thinking against the Gov't is a crime now...
genericreg
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 11:22 p.m.
Not much difference between this and attempted terrorism... if it's found to be true based on the evidence, of course.
Anonymous Due to Bigotry
Tue, Apr 27, 2010 : 9:48 p.m.
Of course they should remain jailed. People who think that they're some sort of soldiers fighting against an evil government will just use any chance at freedom to wage "war".