Hutaree

The Hutaree's website claimed: "We see the end of the age coming quickly, and with it some very rough times ahead, as foretold by God's word."{{Cite web |title=Hutaree: About Us |url=http://www.hutaree.org/About_Us.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406023412/http://www.hutaree.org/About_Us.html |archive-date=April 6, 2013 |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Hutaree.org}} The militia describes its goals. "The only thing on earth to save the testimony and those who follow it, are the members of the testimony, until the return of Christ in the clouds. We Hutaree are prepared to defend all who belong to Christ and save them. To those who do not, we will still spread the word and fight to keep it, until the time of the great coming."{{Cite news |last=Harwood |first=Matthew |date=March 31, 2010 |title=A Christian militia in America's midst |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/mar/31/christian-militia-hutaree-us |access-date=August 9, 2023}}

According to some sources, the group is described as practicing survivalism.{{cite web |last=Armstrong |first=Dan |date=May 13, 2011 |orig-date=March 30, 2010 |title=Mentality of the Hutaree militia group |url=https://midmichigannow.com/news/local/mentality-of-the-hutaree-militia-group |access-date=August 9, 2023 |website=Mid-Michigan Now |quote=}} Most of the members were active voters with unidentified political party affiliations.{{cite news |last=Troy |first=Tom |date=April 1, 2010 |title=Most indicted members of militia group are voters |newspaper=The Blade |url=http://toledoblade.com/article/20100401/NEWS16/4010369 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405184123/http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20100401/NEWS16/4010369 |archive-date=April 5, 2010}}

The Hutaree has been known to lend assistance to other militias in the past, with such things as searching for missing persons.{{cite news |last=Higgins |first=Lee |date=March 25, 2010 |title=Bridgewater Township official turns to militia for help; watchdog groups question decision |work=The Ann Arbor News |url=http://www.annarbor.com/news/bridgewater-township-turns-to-militia-for-help/ |access-date=August 6, 2012 }}

The Hutaree insignia includes a sword, crossed spears, and the letters "CCR" which stand for "Colonial Christian Republic".

{{Cite news |last1=Chambers |first1=Jennifer |last2=Guthrie |first2=Doug |date=March 29, 2010 |title=Militia members arrested in Sunday raid to be charged today |work=The Detroit News |url=http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20100329/METRO/3290334/Militia-members-arrested-in-Sun.-raid-to-be-charged-today |url-status=dead |access-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130121141206/http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20100329/METRO/3290334/Militia-members-arrested-in-Sun.-raid-to-be-charged-today |archive-date=January 21, 2013}}

Hutaree members use a unique system of paramilitary ranks with titles from highest to lowest: Radok, Boramander, Zulif, Arkon, Rifleman (three grades), Lukore, and Gunner (three grades). University of Pennsylvania linguistics professor Mark Liberman commented: "I don't see basis in biblical or military history for Radok, Boramander, Zulif, Arkon, and Lukore."{{CN|date=August 2023}}

The group remained exclusively Christian but attempted to maintain relationships with individuals and groups that adhere to other beliefs, especially within the militia movement. One militia associate of the group, named Matt Savino, was denied membership in the Hutaree when he revealed that he was a Muslim. Savino was referred to join the Michigan Militia by the Hutaree who declined his membership but maintained contact with Mr Savino. Savino eventually was elected to be a "Colonel" in the Michigan Militia.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Kirk |date=March 31, 2010 |title=Militia Draws Distinctions Between Groups |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/us/01michigan.html |access-date=August 9, 2023}} Savino later provided information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which appears to have assisted them in capturing the last indicted Hutaree at large, Joshua Stone.{{Cite news |last=Householder |first=Mike |date=April 2, 2010 |title=Militia's influence appears limited to close group |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-militias-influence-appears-limited-to-close-group-2010apr02-story.html |access-date=August 9, 2023}}

From March 28 to 30, 2010, nine people thought to be Hutaree members were arrested in police raids in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana (in Hammond), for their alleged involvement in a plot to kill various police officers and possibly civilians using illegal explosives and/or firearms.{{Cite news |last1=Cratty |first1=Carol |last2=St. Claire |first2=Pat |last3=Candiotti |first3=Susan |date=March 28, 2010 |title=At least 7 arrested after raids in 3 states |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/28/militia.arrests/ |access-date=August 9, 2023}} An undercover agent played a role in the investigation that led to indictments. Grand jury testimony by a law enforcement officer referred to an "undercover FBI agent" who worked on the case; the FBI declined to comment, but infiltration is a common tactic for law-enforcement officials targeting domestic militia groups.{{cite news |last=Kellogg |first=Alex P. |date=March 31, 2010 |title=Militia Chief's Mistrust Festered, Friends Say |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304739104575154041322442962?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories |access-date=August 3, 2017 }} The FBI informant was later revealed to be Hal Turner.{{Cite news |date=March 21, 2012 |title=Defense: Feds held key info in Mich. militia case |work=Royal Oak Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.dailytribune.com/2012/03/21/defense-feds-held-key-info-in-mich-militia-case/ |access-date=August 9, 2023}}

File:Hutare.png

The group was allegedly preparing for what they believed would be an apocalyptic battle with the forces of the Antichrist, who they believed would be supported and defended by local, state, and federal law enforcement.

On May 3, 2010, a federal judge ordered that all nine members be freed on bond until their trial, saying that prosecutors were not able to demonstrate that the defendants would pose a danger if released.{{cite news |last=Bunkley |first=Nick |date=May 3, 2010 |title=Militia Members Released Until Trial in Michigan Plot |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/us/04militia.html |access-date=February 24, 2017 }}

The United States Attorney's Office stated that the Hutaree allegedly planned "to kill an unidentified member of local law enforcement and then attack the law enforcement officers who gather in Michigan for the funeral".{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2010 |title=Nine Members of a Militia Group Charged with Seditious Conspiracy and Related Charges |url=https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/nine-members-militia-group-charged-seditious-conspiracy-and-related-charges |access-date=August 9, 2023 |publisher=United States Department of Justice |type=Press release}} The press release further stated that nine had been indicted by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges of seditious conspiracy, attempted use of weapons of mass destruction, teaching the use of explosive materials, and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. The indictment said that the Hutaree planned to attack unspecified law enforcement vehicles during the funeral procession for an unspecified officer or officers they planned to kill on an unspecified occasion, using unspecified explosively formed penetrator improvised explosive devices (which under federal law are considered "weapons of mass destruction").

Some articles suggested the Hutaree had not yet determined whom they would kill in law enforcement, or even that they wished to kill a law enforcement officer to begin a war with law enforcement, while not having any specific target.{{Cite news |date=March 29, 2010 |title=Militia members charged with police-killing plot |work=Deseret News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.deseret.com/2010/3/29/20105207/militia-members-charged-with-police-killing-plot |access-date=August 9, 2023}} The FBI was aided in its investigation by members of another militia group.{{Cite news |last=Temple-Raston |first=Dina |author-link=Dina Temple-Raston |date=April 12, 2010 |title=How The FBI Got Inside The Hutaree Militia |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2010/04/12/125856761/how-the-fbi-got-inside-the-hutaree-militia |access-date=August 9, 2023}}

File:Suspected members of Hutaree militia.jpg

Nine members of the group that were arrested:{{Cite news |last1=Householder |first1=Mike |last2=Williams |first2=Corey |date=March 30, 2010 |title=9th militia suspect faces charges in Mich. |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-9th-militia-suspect-faces-charges-in-mich-2010mar30-story.html |access-date=August 9, 2023}}

• Tina Mae Stone, 44
• Joshua Matthew Stone, 21
• David Brian Stone Sr, 44, center (a.k.a. "RD", "Joe Stonewall", "Captain Hutaree")
• David Brian Stone Jr., 19 (a.k.a. "Junior")
• Thomas William Piatek, 46
• Michael David Meeks, 40
• Kristopher T. Sickles, 27 (a.k.a. "Pale Horse")
• Joshua Clough, 28 (a.k.a. "Azzurlin", "Az", "Mouse", "Jason Z", "Charles")
• Jacob J. Ward, 33 (a.k.a. "Jake", "Nate")

On May 3, 2010, U.S. District Judge Victoria A. Roberts ordered all nine defendants to be released on bond, over the objection of federal prosecutors. "The order is silent as to any financial aspects of the bonds. In federal court, defendants are normally released on $10,000 unsecured bonds, meaning they do not have to put up any money."{{According to whom|date=June 2019}} The court ruled that five of the Hutaree remain in custody. The ruling applied to David Stone Sr., Joshua Stone, Joshua Clough, Michael Meeks, and Thomas Piatek. Four other members had already been released on bond. The court ordered that they be placed on electronic monitors.

In addition to being confined to their homes, outside of time spent away from work (or while seeking employment as per standard federal pretrial release conditions), some additional requirements were placed on individual defendants, for example, alleged leader David Brian Stone Sr. was barred from having any contact with Michigan-based militia activist Mark Koernke.{{Cn|date=August 2023}}

Prosecutors added charges in June 2012 stating that David Stone Sr., Joshua Stone, and Clough illegally possessed automatic rifles and that David Stone Sr., David Stone Jr., and Joshua Stone possessed unregistered firearms, charging them with violations of the National Firearms Act. Clough had earlier entered a guilty plea in December 2011 to a weapons law violation in a plea agreement, with leniency suggested in light of his cooperative testimony in the case. David Stone Sr. and Joshua Stone eventually later entered a guilty pleas in March 2012 to some NFA violations as part of a plea agreement.{{Cite news |last=Kelleher |first=James B. |date=March 29, 2012 |title=Final Hutaree defendants plead guilty to weapons charges |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-crime-militia-idUSBRE82S0RV20120329 |access-date=August 9, 2023}}

In February 2011, Judge Victoria A. Roberts set a new trial date of September 13, 2011, after defense attorneys asked for more time to review the hundreds of pages of evidence prosecutors had provided them. Attorneys also cited the complexity of the case in asking for a delay. The case originally was to go to trial on February 28, 2011. Roberts first delayed the trial in December 2010 until April after attorneys made a similar request. Defense attorneys argued that statements made by Hutaree were constitutionally protected free speech and not plans for an attack.

In January 2012, a federal judge issued an order granting the defense attorneys' motion to exclude prosecution testimony by an expert drawing parallels between the defendants' beliefs and various conspiracy theories about Ruby Ridge, the Waco siege, the Oklahoma City bombing, and 9/11, concluding: "It is largely irrelevant to the issues in dispute and what little probative value it might add is substantially outweighed by the risks of undue prejudice, confusion and misleading the jury."{{Cite court|litigants=United States v. Stone|litigants-force-plain=y|court=E.D. Mich.|reporter=F.R.D.|vol=279|opinion=434|pinpoint=439-440|date=2012|url=https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-stone-102}}

The trial began on February 13, 2012.{{Cite news |last=Keshavan |first=Meghana |date=February 13, 2012 |title=Trial of pro-arms militia opens in Detroit |newspaper=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crime-hutaree-idUSTRE81C19V20120213 |access-date=October 14, 2020 |via=}} On March 27, 2012, a federal judge acquitted seven Hutaree defendants of the most serious charges related to conspiracy and sedition; they were free to go. David Stone Sr. and Joshua Stone continued to be held on weapons-related charges.{{Cite court|litigants=United States v. Stone|litigants-force-plain=y|court=E.D. Mich.|opinion=Case No: 10-20123|date=March 27, 2012|url=https://casetext.com/case/united-states-v-stone-73}} On August 8, 2012, David Stone Sr., Joshua Stone, and Joshua Clough were sentenced to time served on weapons-related charges, to which they pleaded guilty, and placed under supervision for two years.{{Cite news |last=Kelleher |first=James B. |date=August 8, 2012 |title=Three Hutaree militia members sentenced in Detroit to time served |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-security-hutaree-idUSBRE8770ZQ20120808 |access-date=August 9, 2023}}

After the acquittal of seven Hutaree members, the property seized during a March 2010 raid was returned to the owners.

Items included a wedding ring, firearms and surplus items of military equipment previously owned by Hutaree members.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=April 21, 2012 |title=FBI Returns Wedding Ring, Gear To Militia Leader |work=CBS News Detroit |publisher=CBS |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/fbi-returns-wedding-ring-gear-to-militia-leader/ |access-date=August 9, 2023 }} The FBI returned Tina Stone's six guns, including her AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.{{cite news |last=Catallo |first=Heather |date=June 5, 2012 |title=FBI returns guns to ex-Hutaree member, Tina Stone says jobs scarce despite acquittal |work=ABC7 |publisher=ABC News |url=http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/fbi-returns-guns-to-ex-hutaree-member-tina-stone-says-jobs-scarce-despite-acquittal |url-status=dead |access-date=August 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607212125/http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/fbi-returns-guns-to-ex-hutaree-member-tina-stone-says-jobs-scarce-despite-acquittal |archive-date=June 7, 2012}}

Seized items that had been returned included hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition, numerous weapons and other material, but several items, including illegal weapons taken as evidence, had been destroyed by the Justice Department.{{cite news |last=Baldas |first=Tresa |date=August 3, 2012 |title=Hutaree militia members: Government wrongly destroyed personal belongings |newspaper=Detroit Free Press |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20120803/NEWS05/308030082/Hutaree-militia-members-Government-wrongly-destroyed-personal-belongings |url-status=dead |access-date=August 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803210833/http://www.freep.com/article/20120803/NEWS05/308030082/Hutaree-militia-members-Government-wrongly-destroyed-personal-belongings |archive-date=August 3, 2014}}{{cite news |last=Goudie |first=Chuck |date=July 6, 2012 |title=Hutaree militiaman to get guns back Friday |work=ABC7 |publisher=ABC News |url=https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8727214/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407220831/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news%2Fiteam&id=8727214 |archive-date=April 7, 2013}}

Following the group's acquittal, Piatek and two other members filed a lawsuit against the federal agents who had infiltrated the group claiming violation of due process as well as first and second amendment violations. In May, 2015, an appeals court rejected to hear their claim.{{Cite web |title=Hutaree militia group loses final battle against government |url=https://abc7chicago.com/hutaree-militia-lawsuit-appeal-rejected/698732/ |access-date=2024-12-28 |website=ABC7 Chicago |language=en}}

• Michigan Militia
• Gretchen Whitmer kidnapping plot, which included potential plans to assault a Michigan State Police station by a separate militia group

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/29/stone.pdf Federal Indictment Document] (521K b, 12 pages)
• [http://www.lenconnect.com/extras/hutaree Hutaree Militia Case] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228073643/http://www.lenconnect.com/extras/hutaree |date=December 28, 2010 }} tracked by The Daily Telegram, Adrian, Michigan (Lenawee County).

Category:2008 establishments in Michigan

Category:Apocalyptic groups

Category:Crimes in Michigan

Category:Law enforcement operations in the United States

Category:Organizations established in 2008

Category:Christian conspiracy theorists

Category:Christian nationalism in the United States

Category:Patriot movement

Category:Right-wing militia organizations in the United States