Hutaree

Not to be confused with Hutterite.

Hutaree (pronounced /huːˈtɑriː/ ( listen)) is a militia movement group adhering to the ideology of the Christian Patriot movement, based in Adrian, Michigan, in the United States.^[1]

The group was formed in early 2008. The name "Hutaree" appears to be a neologism; the group's web site says that it means "Christian warriors".^[2]

The group was allegedly preparing for what they believed would be an apocalyptic battle with the forces of the Antichrist, whom they believed would be supported and defended by local, state and federal police departments. On their website, all police and military members who would support the current U.S. system of local, state or federal government were described as members of the "brotherhood", and were considered by the Hutaree to be "enemies".^[1]

From March 28 to March 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.^[3] An undercover agent played a role in the investigation that led 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Beliefs

The Hutaree claim that an apocalypse is near but has not yet begun and will occur in the future.^[6] An article on the Hutaree website suggested that Javier Solana, former Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and of the Western European Union, may be the Antichrist.^[7][8] According to some sources the group is described as practicing survivalism.^[9] Most of the members were active voters with unidentified political party affiliation.^[10]

Many videos posted on the Hutaree's website support several right-wing organizations, politicians, and news commentators. A former fiancee of Hutaree leader David Stone, has claimed that he was a "Ron Paul fanatic".^[11] Several of their site videos include coverage of congressman Paul. Some of their videos claimed that the aims of the United Nations were hostile to American values and philosophy, and also included unsupported assertions that the UN leadership and the U.S. government were secretly plotting to subvert or destroy their own Charter Documents, namely the U.S. Constitution and the UN's Declaration of Human Rights.

The Hutaree insignia includes a sword, crossed spears, and the letters "CCR" which stand for "Colonial Christian Republic."^[12] 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).^[12] 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. They sound kind of like Pokémon names (e.g. Arbok, Charmander, Zubat), but there's no precedent there, either."^[2] One man who once contemplated joining the group, a Mr. Savino, was refused admission due to his being a Muslim. This same individual 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.^[13]

The recent federal indictment against the Hutaree members in federal custody centered around the Hutaree's apparent plans to employ extreme violence to replace all (or most) current forms of U.S. government. What appears to have been the primary motivating factor behind their plans was the Hutaree's seemingly consuming resentment of all police and military, the current U.S. government in general, and the United Nations.^{[14][non-primary source needed][15]}

Context

According to a recent report by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the doctrines of such groups are often fueled by a certain "anger over the changing demographics of the country, the soaring public debt, the troubled economy and an array of initiatives by President Barack Obama that have been branded 'socialist' or even 'fascist' by the heated rhetoric of his political opponents."^[16][17] Another SPLC report notes that the number of U.S. militia groups like the Hutaree have increased three-fold since 2008 (from 42 in 2008 to 127 in 2009), and the number of sympathetic groups has doubled in the same two-year period.^[16][18]

Criminal investigation

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".^[19][20] 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 law enforcement vehicles during the funeral procession for the officer(s) they planned to kill, using improvised explosive devices of the Explosively formed penetrator variety, thus constituting the formal, Federal statutory definition of Weapons of Mass Destruction.^[20]

Some articles suggest the Hutaree had not yet determined whom in law enforcement they would kill, and even that they wished to kill a law enforcement officer in order to begin a war with law enforcement, while not having any specific target.^[21]

The FBI was aided in its investigation by members of another militia group who had learned of the Hutaree's plans.^[22]

Members taken into custody

In order as shown: Tina Mae Stone, Joshua Matthew Stone, David Brian Stone Sr., David Brian Stone Jr., Thomas William Piatek, Michael David Meeks, Kristopher T. Sickles, Joshua Clough, Jacob J. Ward

Nine members of the group have been arrested:^[23][24]

• Tina Mae Stone, 44
• Joshua Matthew Stone, 21 (a.k.a. "Josh")
• 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 (a.k.a. "Mikey" )
• 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." The court ruled that five of the Hutaree remain in custody. The ruling applies to David Stone, Sr., Joshua Stone, Joshua Clough, Michael Meeks and Thomas Piatek. Four other members have 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), some additional requirements were placed on individual defendants, for example, alleged leader David Brian Stone Sr. is barred from having any contact with Michigan-based militia activist Mark Koernke.^[25]

The federal government in June 2010 added charges 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.

In February 2011, Judge Victoria A. Roberts set a new trial date of Sept. 13, 2011 after defense attorneys asked for more time to review the hundreds of pages of evidence prosecutors have provided them. Attorneys also cited the complexity of the case in asking for a delay. The case originally was to go to trial on Feb. 28, 2011. Roberts first delayed the trial in December 2010 until April after attorneys made a similar request.

The Hutaree members’ attorneys say that what an undercover federal agent and an informant claim was being planned was only talk, and is constitutionally protected speech.

Michigan Militia and the Hutaree

Immediately following the arrest of nine Hutaree members, leaders from several Michigan militia groups condemned the Hutaree, stating that the Hutaree was not a militia and that the Michigan Militia does not support or advocate for the use of violence against the United States of America except "in the very unlikely event that the Government openly attacks its citizens".^{[cite this quote]}

The Hutaree contacted the Michigan Militia for assistance during the stand-off with the Federal Government, the Michigan Militia turned down the call to arms after brief discussion, allowing the Hutaree members to be taken into custody without issue. The Michigan Militia was fully cooperative with the Government when questioned about the Hutaree.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Militia movement (United States)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "US 'Christian militants' charged after FBI raids" BBC, 30 March 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
2. ^ ^{a b} Hutaree dialect -- rooted in religion or Pokemon?, Detroit News, March 29, 2010
3. ^ CNN Staff Writers "At least 7 arrested after raids in 3 states ", CNN, March 28, 2010
4. ^ Kellogg, Alex P. (2010-03-31). "Militia Chief's Mistrust Festered, Friends Say". The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304739104575154041322442962.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories. 
5. ^ Bunkley, Nick (2010-05-03). "Militia Members Released Until Trial in Michigan Plot". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/04/us/04militia.html. 
6. ^ "Doctrine Of The Hutaree". Hutaree.com. http://www.hutaree.com/doctrine.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 
7. ^ Reynolds, John (April 2006) "10 Horns of the European Super State, Mr. Europe and 7 years of peace in Israel "hutaree.com Retrieved 29 March 2010
8. ^ Hosenball, Mark (2010-03-31). "Hutaree Suspected Former NATO Chief of Being the Antichrist". Declassified Blog. Newsweek. http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/archive/2010/03/31/hutaree-suspected-former-nato-chief-of-being-the-antichrist.aspx. Retrieved 2010-05-16. 
9. ^ "Mentality of the Hutaree militia group". http://www.connectmidmichigan.com/news/story.aspx?id=436976. Retrieved 2010-04-01. "Dr. Jack Kay, provost of Eastern Michigan University and militia expert, says "Most of the militia groups are truly folks who have a strong belief in survivalism, who believe they need to be prepared to live off the land. They need to be able to defend their property."" 
10. ^ Troy, Tom (2010-04-01). "Most indicted members of militia group are voters". The Blade. http://toledoblade.com/article/20100401/NEWS16/4010369. Retrieved 2010-04-02. 
11. ^ (March 30, 2010) "Hutaree leader is Ron Paul fanatic ", dailykos, Retrieved March 30, 2010
12. ^ ^{a b} Chambers, Jennifer; Doug Guthrie (March 29, 2010). "Militia members arrested in Sunday raid to be charged today". The Detroit News. http://detnews.com/article/20100329/METRO/3290334/Militia-members-arrested-in-Sun.-raid-to-be-charged-today. Retrieved March 31, 2010. 
13. ^ "Associated Press - Militia's influence appears limited to close group". 2010. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hGc00FR9o4OUr36gm80mOpG00ccwD9ER571O0. Retrieved 2010-04-02.  Discussion regarding some background information on the Hutaree.
14. ^ "Hutaree.Com". Hutaree.Com. http://www.hutaree.com/. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 
15. ^ "US vs: Hutaree members". 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Federal-hutaree-indictment-mar-2010.pdf. Retrieved 2010-04-01.  Copy of federal indictment against Hutaree
16. ^ ^{a b} "All the Rage". On the Media. 2010-04-02. http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2010/04/02/01. Retrieved 2010-04-14. "[M]uch of the hate speech and especially the kind of defamatory propaganda and conspiracy theories that come out of these radical right wing groups, hate groups and patriot groups, so called, is making its way into the mainstream. And that kind of conveyor belt movement from the margins to the mainstream is being very much aided, at least in the last year or two, by a number of mainstream politicians, or ostensibly mainstream politicians, and media commentators." 
17. ^ "'Patriot' Groups, Militias Surge in Number". Southern Poverty Law Center. 03/02/2010. http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/news/splc-report-number-of-patriot-groups-militias-surges-by-244-in-past-year. Retrieved 2010-03-31. 
18. ^ "‘Nine ...Indicted in Plans for ‘Armed Conflict’‘". Southern Poverty Law Center. 03/29/2010. http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2010/03/29/nine-members-of-the-hutaree-militia/. Retrieved 2010-04-01.  Discussion of growth of militias and patriot groups.
19. ^ Nine Members of a Militia Group Charged with Seditious Conspiracy and Related Offenses, United States Department of Justice, March 29, 2010
20. ^ ^{a b} "Press release on Hutaree indictment". Scribd.com. http://www.scribd.com/doc/29094479/Press-release-on-Hutaree-indictment. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 
21. ^ Corey Williams & Devlin Barrett "Militia members charged with police-killing plot " AP viaDeseret News, March 29, 2010
22. ^ How The FBI Got Inside The Hutaree Militia, National Public Radio, April 12, 2010
23. ^ "9th Militia Suspect Faces Charges". Clickondetroit.com. 2010-03-28. http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22978954/detail.html. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 
24. ^ "ALERT: Ninth Hutaree Suspect Arraigned". WXYZ.com. 2010-03-30. http://www.wxyz.com/mostpopular/story/BREAKING-Final-Hutaree-Suspect-Arrested/eE6ZljBWa0uFOMUdtOLzvw.cspx. Retrieved 2010-03-30. 
25. ^ The Detroit News, "Judge grants bond for Hutaree militia members," by Paul Egan (May 3rd, 2010 - retrieved on May 3rd, 2010).

External links

• Federal Indictment Document (521K b, 12 pages)
• Hutaree Militia Case tracked by The Daily Telegram, Adrian, Michigan (Lenawee County).