Federal prosecutors dismiss charge against Hutaree member

Federal prosecutors have dismissed a gun charge against Hutaree militia member David Brian Stone Jr.

Prosecutors filed a motion Friday in federal court in Detroit that says "the ends of justice would best be served by this dismissal." It does not elaborate.

David Brian Stone Jr.

The charge alleged Stone Jr., who is the adopted son of Hutaree leader David Brian Stone, had a short-barreled rifle that wasn't registered.

Stone Jr., 21, of Adrian, is among 9 Hutaree members accused of discussing killing a police officer and attacking the funeral procession motorcade with homemade bombs.

He still faces 7 other counts, including seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.

Stone Jr. and three other Hutaree members are out on bond as they await trail. Five have been detained since their arrest a year-and-a-half ago.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts denied a motion for a bond hearing for defendants Michael Meeks, 41, of Bridgewater Township and Thomas Piatek, 48, of Whiting, Indiana.

In the order, Roberts wrote that continued pretrial detention does not violate Meeks' due process rights. She also wrote that the defendants hadn't introduced sufficient new evidence pertaining to the risk they pose to the community to warrant reconsidering bond.

The trial is scheduled for Feb. 7.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.