Judge grants bond for Hutaree militia members

[The Straight Story]

Judge grants bond for Hutaree militia members
Paul Egan / The Detroit News

Detroit -- A federal judge has found that all nine members of the Hutaree accused of plotting a violent battle with government forces should be released from custody pending their trials.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts ruled this morning that they will be subject to home detention and electronic monitoring with curfews.

Roberts said she disagreed with the prosecutors' position that the nine were dangers to the community and that they were flight risks and should remain in custody until their trial.


The ruling could be appealed, delaying the release of the nine.

Alleged leader David Stone Sr. and eight followers were arrested in a series of raids that started March 27. A grand jury indictment unsealed March 29 charges them with seditious conspiracy and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction.

Prosecutors say the Lenawee County-based group was planning to kill a police officer and then use bombs to attack the scores of officers drawn to the slain officer's funeral. The group hoped the killing would spark a general uprising against the government, prosecutors allege.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100503/METRO/5030374/Judge-grants-bond-for-Hutaree-militia-members#ixzz0msrsRYg2