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

By Tresa Baldas and David Ashenfelter, Detroit Free Press

DETROIT – The government says they’re homegrown terrorists who plotted to kill police officers with bombs and guns.

Their defense lawyers say they’re tough-talking, good ol’ boys who had no real plans to harm anyone.

Today, two years after federal agents arrested nine people suspected to be Hutaree militia members in separate raids in Michigan and Indiana, the highly anticipated terrorism trial begins here in federal court.

All the suspects are charged with seditious conspiracy, attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted, they could face life in prison.

The trial is likely to put the First Amendment to the test. The defense claims that free speech is under attack and that the defendants are being prosecuted for criticizing the government.

Attorney Todd Shanker, representing defendant David Stone Jr., has said, “We just can’t ignore the First Amendment.”

The prosecution argues the defendants aren’t on trial for their words but for being part of a conspiracy to kill law enforcement officers.

“Because of the dangers presented by criminal conspiracies, there is a strong government interest in thwarting such conspiracies before they ripen into violent action,” prosecutors wrote in court documents.

The Hutaree group is accused of plotting to kill a law enforcement officer and then bomb the funeral. The group also is accused of preparing a hit list of judges, business leaders, educators and others.

Much of the evidence at trial is expected to be secretly recorded statements and conversations between the accused Hutaree members and the two undercover operatives who infiltrated the group.

Defense lawyers disclosed some of the government’s secret recordings and say that just because militia members were talking, it doesn’t mean actual terrorism plans were underway.

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Categories: Racism, Reactionary Watch, U.S. News