Jurors to consider danger of Midwest militia

Subject: Jurors to consider danger of Midwest militia Mon Feb 13, 2012 3:20 am

Detroit --

Seven members of a Midwest militia accused of plotting to overthrow the government are set to stand trial in a case that asks jurors to decide whether federal authorities prevented an attack by homegrown extremists or simply made too much of boasts by weekend warriors who had pledged to "take our nation back."

Jurors to consider danger of Midwest militia Bamilitia13ph1wre010670

Opening statements are set for today in the trial of members of the Hutaree militia, who are charged with conspiring to commit sedition, or rebellion, as well as weapons crimes.

After the March 2010 arrests in southern Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said the time had come for authorities to "take them down." An undercover agent recorded the group's leader, David Stone Sr., saying the militia needed to "start huntin' " police soon.

But since their capture, only one of nine people charged has struck a plea deal, an unusually low number in a case with so many defendants. Their attorneys have maintained a consistent stance: The antigovernment talk was simply colorful yet idle bluster.

"I'm going to fight it tooth and nail," David Stone's wife and co-defendant, Tina Mae Stone, said at a break in jury selection last week. "It was just a bunch of good ol' boys out to have fun."
Problematic informant

The indictment, however, describes a sinister band. The government says the Hutaree, based in Michigan's Lenawee County, was an antigovernment group committed to fighting authorities who belong to a New World Order. The defendants are accused of conspiring to someday ambush and kill a police officer, then attack the funeral procession with explosives and activate a broader revolt against the U.S. government.

"The court will hear testimony and examine evidence concerning this particular group's hatred for, and desire to do physical harm to, law enforcement," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Graveline.

The government relied on an undercover agent inside the group and an informant. But the informant has pleaded guilty in state court to firing a gun during a dispute with his wife and also attempted suicide.

"How often do American citizens get charged with sedition or inciting discontent and resistance against big government? Heck, most citizens are discontented with the government," said Lloyd Meyer, a Chicago lawyer and former terrorism prosecutor. "In this case, no one pulled a trigger and no one got hurt. ... A jury could believe that the feds went after this group with a meat cleaver instead of a scalpel."
Planning and training

But Alan Gershel, a former prosecutor who teaches at Cooley Law School in suburban Detroit, said the allegations in the indictment seem more than goofy talk.

"There was planning. There was acquisition of firearms. There was training," he said. "Do you have to wait until the first shot is fired?"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/12/MNT21N6NC3.DTL

Jurors to consider danger of Midwest militia

Jurors to consider danger of Midwest militia

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