ADRIAN, Mich. — The leader of a self-proclaimed group of “Christian warriors” had lofty ambitions: Set up chapters across the U.S., stockpile a massive cache of weapons and even establish his own country as he prepared to battle the Anti christ, authorities say.
David Brian Stone never got too far in his plans. His influence didn’t appear to extend much beyond a close circle of family and friends, and associates say other militias refused to come to his defense during raids late last month.
“These guys may have felt in their mind that they were a part of this brotherhood,” said Andrew Arena, head of the FBI in Detroit. “The reality is I don’t think they’ve got a whole lot of support.”
Stone, his two sons, wife and five others were arrested after the raids in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio and charged with seditious conspiracy, attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and other crimes.
Authorities say the nine, who were members of the Christian militia called Hutaree, were plotting to kill police officers in hope of sparking an anti-government revolution.
A federal judge in Michigan on Friday ordered eight of the suspects, including Stone, to remain locked up until trial. The ninth suspect is being held in Indiana.
Defense attorney James Thomas, who appealed the judge’s ruling, said although the charges are serious, “the indictment is nothing more than a piece of paper.”
Authorities say Hutaree members had been meeting for paramilitary training in rural Michigan since at least 2008, and Stone had wanted to reach out to other militias in hopes of forging a larger movement.
Members of a group in Hutaree’s own backyard — the Lenawee Volunteer Michigan Militia — not only refused to assist one of Stone’s sons who fled the FBI after a raid Saturday night, but they turned to authorities to help track down Joshua Stone.
Even the Ohio Valley Freedom Fighters, considered by law enforcement to be Kentucky’s largest and most active militia group, came forward with a blog posting that offers only lukewarm support.
Heidi Beirich, research director for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist groups, said the Hutaree’s “Christian apocalyptic vision is quite different from most other militias.”
“Most don’t put their religion first — they’re more concerned with out-of-control federal government,” she said.
Two months ago, David Stone had hoped to rally support among other militias at a summit in Kentucky, prosecutors say.
Stone and other Hutaree members piled into a van but never made it to the meeting, turning around in Indianapolis.
