Fourth Hutaree militia member to be released from jail on Wednesday
Following the Tuesday release of three Michigan militia members from jail, federal prosecutors are allowing a fourth Hutaree militia member to be released, pending his conspiracy trial.
Photos provided by the US Marshals Service show the alleged members of the Hutaree militia in Michigan. From top left: David Brian Stone Sr. of Clayton, Mich.; David Brian Stone Jr. of Adrian, Mich.; Jacob Ward of Huron, Ohio; Tina Mae Stone. Bottom row from left: Michael David Meeks of Manchester, Mich.; Kristopher T. Sickles of Sandusky, Ohio; Joshua John Clough of Blissfield, Mich.; Thomas William Piatek of Whiting, Ind.
U.S. Marshall/AP/File
Detroit, Michigan
Federal prosecutors in Detroit are willing to let a fourth Midwest militia member leave jail until trial on conspiracy and other charges.
Spokeswoman Gina Balaya (Ba-LIE'-uh) says Kristopher Sickles of Sandusky, Ohio, will be brought to court Wednesday for his release with an electronic monitor and other restrictions. He's been in custody since late March.
The 27-year-old Sickles is one of nine people charged with conspiring to commit sedition, or rebellion, against the government. Three other members of a southern Michigan-based group called Hutaree were released from jail Tuesday.
Prosecutors are satisfied they won't have much freedom while being electronically monitored. Until this week, the government had firmly opposed the release of any of the nine.