Militia member pleads guilty to federal firearm charge

Jessica Cuffman
Jessica Cuffman's picture
02:34 PM
Dec 07
2011
This combo of eight photos provided by the U.S. Marshals Service on Monday March 29, 2010 shows from top left, David Brian Stone Sr., 44, of Clayton, Mich,; David Brian Stone Jr. of Adrian, Mich,; Jacob Ward, 33, of Huron, Ohio; Tina Mae Stone and bottom row from left, Michael David Meeks, 40, of Manchester, Mich,; Kristopher T. Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, Ohio; Joshua John Clough, 28, of Blissfield, Mich.; and Thomas William Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind.,. Nine suspects tied to Hutaree, a Christian militia that was preparing for the Antichrist were charged with conspiring to kill police officers, then kill scores more by attacking a funeral using homemade bombs, federal prosecutors said Monday. Federal authorities say Stone's other son, Joshua Matthew Stone is a fugitive. Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind., was arrested Sunday in Illinois after an FBI raid Saturday in Hammond, Ind. In court Monday, he initially said he was the person named in the federal indictment, but when read the allegations, he said "I'm not that guy." U.S. District Judge Paul Cherry ordered Piatek to return Wednesday for an identity and bond hearing. (AP Photo/U.S. Marshall)
DETROIT

The first of nine members of a Michigan-based Christian militia group pleaded guilty to a single charge in federal court this week.

Joshua J. Clough, of Michigan, pleaded guilty to use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and with a $250,000 fine, according to court documents.

Clough and eight others, including Kristopher Sickles of Sandusky, and Jacob Ward of Huron, were arrested on federal charges in March 2010 after allegedly conspiring to kill police officers.

Clough, Sickles and Ward joined the other members, allegedly lead by David Stone Sr., to form a group called Hutaree.

They allegedly participated in military-style training in Lenawee County, Mich., learning weapons proficiency drills, patrolling and reconnaissance exercises and assembly and use of explosives, according to court documents.

The nine members were charged with multiple counts of seditious conspiracy, use of certain weapons of mass destruction, knowingly transferring arms used in violent crime and other charges. Cases are pending for the other defendants in U.S. District Court in Detroit.

Last year, Ward was ordered to undergo mental competency evaluations to determine if he could stand trial.

In July, the court ruled he was incompetent, according to court documents.

A psychiatrist diagnosed Ward with paranoid type delusional disorder and noted with proper medication, his competency could be restored within three to six months with treatment.

Ward told the doctor he believed the FBI had fabricated charges against the Hutaree to keep certain FBI acts secret.

Ward also believed the FBI wanted to keep him from marrying a woman named Tonya, and to prevent “evil people” from being punished for their crimes, according to court documents.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts ordered Ward be hospitalized.

Motion hearings for the rest of the defendants in the case are scheduled for Jan. 6.
 

Related File(s): 
application/pdf iconPlea filed Dec. 5
application/pdf iconCompetency order for Jacob Ward


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