Kenosha County, Wis., prosecutors said Kyle Rittenhouse failed to notify the court in writing of a change of address within 48 hours. File Photo courtesy of the Kenosha County, Wis., Sheriff's Department
Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in Kenosha, Wis., sought an arrest warrant for Kyle Rittenhouse, an Illinois teen charged with killing two men during racial justice protests over the summer, after he allegedly violated his bail terms.
The Kenosha County District Attorney's Office said Rittenhouse, 18, failed to notify the court of his change of address within 48 hours. Prosecutors said a notice about a hearing mailed to Rittenhouse was returned to sender Thursday without a forwarding address.
In a motion filed in Kenosha County Court, prosecutors asked Judge Bruce Schroeder to issue an arrest warrant for Rittenhouse and increase his bail by $200,000. Rittenhouse was released from jail in November on $2 million bond.
This isn't the first time Rittenhouse has faced court action for allegedly violating his bond conditions. In January, a judge changed his bond terms after the teen was caught on security footage drinking beer at a bar in Mount Pleasant, Wis., and flashing an "OK" hand gesture, which has been co-opted by White supremacist groups. A group of men also serenaded Rittenhouse with the Proud Boys anthem -- a group linked to violent White supremacy.
The judge altered the terms of Rittenhouse's bond Friday to prohibit him from knowingly having contact with any person or group known to "harm, threaten harass or menace others on the basis of their race, beliefs on the subject of religion, color, national origin, or gender." The modified bond also prohibited him from possessing and consuming alcoholic beverages and possessing firearms.
In their filing Wednesday, prosecutors accused Rittenhouse of having a "carefree attitude" and not respecting his bond conditions while facing homicide charges.
"It is important to note that the $2 million [bond] came from a dubious Internet fundraising campaign, and the defendant and his family did not post any money toward that bond," the filing said. "As a result, the defendant is free from custody with minimal incentive to comply with his bond conditions. He posted no money so he has no financial stake in the bond.
"Rarely does our community see accused murderers roaming about freely."
Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Ill., was arrested in September and indicted as an adult on charges of being a fugitive from justice, first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide. He's accused of killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, and injuring Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, with an AR-15-style rifle near the Civic Center Park where demonstrators had congregated to protest the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
Graphic video of the shooting captured on a cellphone shows Rittenhouse running down the street after having allegedly shot Rosenbaum as people ran after him. While fleeing, Rittenhouse falls, at which point Huber attempts to yank the rifle from the teenager who shoots him. Huber takes a few steps before collapsing to the street.
Rittenhouse's lawyer said his client shot the three protesters in self-defense.
