Today a federal judge denied a prosecutor’s request to revoke the bond of a Denver firefighter who was arrested last year and faces charges of selling illegally modified machine guns.
U.S. Judge Robert Blackburn said prosecutors failed to show that Stan Taran Ford, 35, was a danger to the community. The judge also granted Ford’s request that he no longer be required to reside in a half way house while awaiting resolution of the case.
Will Hood, a Denver lawyer representing Ford, said that from the outset prosecutors seemed bent on portraying Ford as having ties to domestic terrorism groups even though the evidence doesn’t support the contention.
“I am disappointed by the enthusiasm they have displayed in coming after someone like Mr. Ford who has been an asset to the community,” Hood said.
During this afternoon’s hearing prosecutors introduced transcripts from a recorded conversations in which Ford is quoted as telling a confidential informant that “all the militia groups” were using a particular type of automatic weapon “for their close quarters weapons.”
Ford also spoke of using “guerilla tactics” in any confrontations with “officers,” according to exhibits presented today in federal court. The transcripts did not elaborate on the type of officer Ford was referring to.
Ford was arrested in November and accused of selling three machine guns that had been illegally modified to be fully automatic weapons.
Also introduced during the hearing was a transcript that quoted Ford as having strong views on illegal immigration.
He said “people should be hunting down these people,” according to a transcript. And Ford had a bumper sticker on his car that said “Viva Tancredo,” a reference to Colorado U.S. Rep Tom Tancredo who also has strong views against illegal immigration.
Hood said that Ford’s opposition to illegal immigration does not make his client a terrorist sympathizer.
Staff writer Alicia Caldwell can be reached at 303-820-1930 or at acaldwell@denverpost.com.
