MichiganRadio

Three Hutaree Members Released DETROIT, MI (Michigan Radio) - Lawyers for three members of the Hutaree militia group say their clients are happy to be out of jail.

Hutaree members David Stone Junior Tina Mae Stone and Jacob Ward were released into the custody of their familes Tuesday. A fourth member, Kristopher Sickles, is set to be released Wednesday.

Six others remain in jail while the Federal government appeals a U-S district Court Judge's decision to grant them bond pending trial.

Todd Shanker is an attorney for David Stone Jr. Shanker believes his client's release is a case of "kicking over the first domino" in the government's case against him.

"When they're making an allegation that your client was attempting to overthrow the government, the domino is even more important," Shanker says. "But make no mistake, it's been kicked over. We think this is a great start."

Federal Prosecutors backed off their earlier efforts to keep the four in jail. They says they now believe the bond conditions are enough to keep the militia members in line.

The Hutaree are accused of plotting to kill police officers in hopes of sparking an uprising against the U-S government.

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