Court records reveal more about Hutaree

In court documents responding to a request for release on bond by Tina Stone filed April 9 in federal court, the government lays out a case that the wife of accused Hutaree Christian militia leader Brian Stone was heavily involved in the operations of the group.

The federal filing is available here.

Attorney’s representing Tina Stone have filed motions seeking a bond release for the woman who married Brian Stone last year in a wedding ceremony featuring camouflage and guns. In that motion, attorneys argue she is not a flight risk because she has no connections outside of Michigan.

But federal authorities present multiple incidents in which Tina, acting at the direction of Brian, participated in the Hutaree’s planning to “levy war” on the U.S. government. They also provided evidence tying her to issuing red alerts to members, controlling the group’s communications and facilitating connections between Hutaree leader Brian Stone and members of the militia in Kentucky.

The filing shows that Tina Stone, at the behest of Brian Stone, issued several alerts to militia members starting in December. It also shows that in the event of problems when Brian Stone and other Hutaree members were on their way to Kentucky or on the way back, she was to issue a “red alert” to other militias.

The court filing alleges that on Jan. 28 of this year, Tina and other Hutaree grabbed their weapons and mobilized to come to the aide of a member who had been pulled over for a traffic infraction. The filing says the group was unable to reach the scene before the traffic stop was concluded.

The government’s allegations against Tina Stone echo statement made by Lenawee County Militia Unit Commander Matt Savino in an interview last week with Michigan Messenger. In that interview Savino said the group was known for issuing alerts based on faulty information.

Talking Points Memo also alleges that Tina Stone and her step-son, 21-year-old Joshua Stone, argued when he became aware she and another Hutaree member had submitted a job application for him. According to TPM, Joshua argued that he did not need another job, because his job as was preparing for “the war.” In response, the website says, Tina reminded the second-in-command of Hutaree that she too was preparing for the war, and working.

In addition to the new court filing, the Associated Press on Monday had an opportunity to review documents related to the search warrants federal authorities used during the raids in late March. Those documents, AP reports, showed federal authorities carried out raids in three states, at eight locations in 4 1/2 hours.

Those documents also reveal what federal authorities seized from various sites:

Two cardboard tubes with green/cannon fuse; a 6-by-@3/4-inch-gallon nipple with end caps; a two-page document about a funnel shape charge; a 2005 daily planner book; a grenade holder; a Hutaree flag; three DVDs labeled “Waco”; a notebook detailing the doctrine and ranks of the Hutaree; and gas masks; at Stone’s trailer home in Lenawee County’s Dover Township.

Suspected crack cocaine and steroids and a lock pick set at the mobile home of suspected Hutaree member Kristopher Sickles in Sandusky, Ohio.

A copy of “My New Order” by Hitler; a samurai sword; a jeweled dagger; and a CD titled “Explosives, Ordnance and Demolition;” at the two-story home of suspected Hutaree member Thomas Piatek in Whiting, Ind.

The militia members are due in federal court at the end of the month for a hearing to determine if the government will continue to hold the suspects until trial, or if they can be released on bail.