Mich. militia members ordered freed

DETROIT, May 3 (UPI) -- Nine Hutaree militia members accused of plotting murder and mayhem are to be placed on home detention until trial, a federal judge in Detroit ruled Monday.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts decided prosecutors had failed to convince her the militia members should remain in custody pending trial, the Detroit Free Press reported.

"The United States is correct that it need not wait until people are killed before it arrests conspirators," the newspaper quoted Roberts as saying in her ruling. "But the defendants are also correct: Their right to engage in hate-filled, venomous speech is a right that deserves First Amendment protection."

The U.S. Attorney's Office had no immediate comment on the ruling.

Roberts said the defendants were to be freed under house arrest on electronic tethers, and must continue to work and report for pre-trial matters on a weekly basis, the Free Press said. They also are to give up their permits to carry concealed weapons and are not to apply for licenses to buy or carry guns, the judge said.

The judge also enjoined them from drinking alcohol or taking drugs and ordered the nine to provide the names, addresses and phone numbers of all Hutaree members and those of any other militia groups with whom they associated.

The group's alleged leader, David Stone Sr. and the eight others were arrested during raids that started March 27. A federal grand jury has charged them with seditious conspiracy and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction.

Authorities allege they planned to kill a police officer and then use bombs to wipe out scores of officers they expected would attend the slain officer's funeral. Their intent, authorities allege, was to foment a national uprising against the federal government.

Besides Stone, the defendants include his wife Tina, 44, his son Joshua, 21, both of Clayton; his stepson, David Stone Jr., 19, of Adrian; Joshua Clough, 28, of Blissfield; Michael Meeks, 40, of Manchester; Thomas Piatek, 46, of Whiting, Ind.; Kristopher Sickles, 27, of Sandusky, Ohio; and Jacob Ward, 33, of Huron, Ohio.