Hutaree member's home confinement isn't necessary, attorneys argue

Posted on Wed, Jun 8, 2011 : 9:20 a.m.

Hutaree member's home confinement isn't necessary, attorneys argue

By Lee Higgins

Attorneys for Hutaree militia member David Stone Jr. recently filed a motion asking the court to consider terminating a number of bond conditions imposed on him as he awaits trial on charges, including seditious conspiracy.

The motion asks the court to modify or terminate conditions subjecting him to home confinement, electronic monitoring and drug testing and forbidding him from drinking alcohol.

David Stone Jr.

Stone Jr., 21, of Adrian, is among nine Hutaree members arrested in March of 2010 after being accused in a plot to levy war against the U.S. government. A number of members were arrested after being lured to an Ann Arbor warehouse, where an FBI agent who infiltrated the group set up a memorial service after claiming one of the group's members had died. The member was an informant and had not died, court records show. A SWAT team raided the event.

A brief supporting the motion says that in 20 months of secret recordings of Hutaree by at least two undercover agents and a confidential informant, Stone Jr. isn’t heard making a “single anti-government or anti-law enforcement utterance.”

The government has already agreed to eliminate the no-alcohol and drug-testing conditions, the motion says, but opposes terminating home confinement and electronic monitoring. Stone Jr. has no history of substance abuse, never tested positive for drug use, has been working at a farm and studying for his GED, the motion says. It claims Stone Jr. has exhibited “model behavior over the past year."

The motion was filed Friday and U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts is expected to schedule a hearing on it within the next month. The trial is scheduled for September.

Among those charged is 41-year-old Michael Meeks of Bridgewater Township.

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.

Comments

Lysander Spooner

Mon, Jul 4, 2011 : 1:46 a.m.

The government and Court is lying. Only a coule of Hutaree members have been released. Tom Piatek has not been released. His collection of 30 guns is missing and the FBI stole his 15 gold coins. Free the Hutaree from the Criminal FBI. The Hutaree have not tortured, or murdered anyone. Torture and murder is part of the FBI's stock in trade. So who are the real criminals? Free the Hutaree <a href="http://members.beforeitsnews.com/story/549/709/Why_American_Citizens_Should_Free_the_Hutaree.html" rel='nofollow'>http://members.beforeitsnews.com/story/549/709/Why_American_Citizens_Should_Free_the_Hutaree.html</a>

Tru2Blu76

Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 7:42 p.m.

I certainly view all extremist groups and cults as at least irresponsible and possibly dangerous. But I have to agree with those saying that this case appears to be thin and that holding people charged without trial for longer than it takes to organize evidence and clarify charges does a lot of damage on different levels. Ironic - but not at all funny - is that government in cases like this is doing its utmost to ensure "justice for all" -and it fails to everyone's detriment.

snapshot

Wed, Jun 8, 2011 : 5:48 p.m.

An overzealous law enforcement officer exploiting the Patriot Act creates an embaressingly inadequate investigation and now the prosecution is determined to make something happen to save face and keep getting federal funding for anti terroism activities. Law enforcement run amuck. If there was a case, it would have been gone to trial already. If you could put stupid, mouthy people on trial Sarah Palin with her "bullseye" target comments would be under arrest too.

cinnabar7071

Wed, Jun 8, 2011 : 1:48 p.m.

Either they have a case or not. How many years can one be locked up without a trail? Criminal charges should be brought up against those stalling.

Huron74

Wed, Jun 8, 2011 : 4:41 p.m.

I agree with you cinnabar. I can't understand why if the case the feds have is so strong they don't go to trial ASAP. Makes me wonder why?

alan

Wed, Jun 8, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.

He is awaiting trial, scheduled for September.

Ricebrnr

Wed, Jun 8, 2011 : 1:39 p.m.

Meh, think of it this way. The longer this continues the bigger the payout will be to the victims of this idiocy. The government's case is clearly "winning" and so is the concept of "swift justice". Wonder if they hope these people will just disappear or better yet the rest of us will just forget about them. Guantanamo, anyone?

Ricebrnr

Wed, Jun 8, 2011 : 3:21 p.m.

Alan There have been numerous stories with lots of comments. Might I suggest starting with the ones tagged in this one. My meaning is quite clear.

alan

Wed, Jun 8, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.

For Pete's sake, I put a question mark and get deleted. I'll rephrase. Ricebrnr, what are you talking about?