One Hutaree down

[Burnaby49]

From today's Wall Street Journal;

DETROIT—One of the defendants in the case against members of a Midwest militia charged with conspiring to attack the government with explosives changed his plea to guilty on Monday.

Joshua John Clough, 29 years old, pleaded guilty in federal court in Detroit to the use of a firearm in connection with a violent crime, federal prosecutors in Detroit said. He faces a five-year prison sentence, the maximum under the law, according to his plea agreement.

It was unclear whether Mr. Clough planned to help the government in its case against his co-defendants. The trial for the eight remaining defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, is scheduled to begin Feb. 7.

Mr. Clough's attorney didn't respond to requests for comment.

As part of his new plea, Mr. Clough acknowledged that he was a member of the Hutaree, an antigovernment group that has advocated and prepared for violence against law enforcement officials. He said the Hutaree's goals included plotting to use bombs against law officers, prosecutors said.

In the spring of last year, prosecutors accused nine members of the Hutaree of plotting to kill a police officer and starting an armed conflict with law officers from their base in southeastern Michigan.

Defense lawyers in the case have argued in court papers that the members had legal possession of the weapons involved and that their conduct amounted to radical but lawful speech.

[Demosthenes]

Jury selection in the Hutaree criminal case started today.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/ ... O920120207

[fortinbras]

Several of the most important charges in the Hutaree Militia case were dismissed by the judge today (March 27th):

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... 63eacd6f71

[Unidyne]

More on the conspiracy dismissal:

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2012/03/27 ... e-militia/