Courtesy of the Fairbanks News Miner:
Attorney Tim Dooley said he planned to file documents on Wednesday asking for a federal bail review for North Pole resident Coleman Barney, who is being held without bond. If the move is successful, the 36-year-old electrician hopes he can gather enough money to get out of jail, Dooley said.
Barney convinced state Superior Court Judge David C. Stewart on Friday to drop his bail on state murder and kidnapping conspiracy charges from $2 million to $100,000.
Dooley said relatives and supporters have scraped together enough money to pay the bond.
Dozens of relatives, friends and church members sent letters to the court requesting a lower bail for Barney. His wife, Rachel, is scheduled Friday to give birth to the couple’s fifth child.
Barney remains imprisoned, however, because he also is charged with federal weapons violations.
“If it was just the state charges — which are more serious than the federal charges, I should add — he’d be out,” Dooley said.
Barney is one of five local defendants with ties to the Alaska Peacemakers Militia who are accused of concocting an elaborate plot they dubbed “241.” That effort, which was reportedly discussed during hundreds of hours of secret FBI recordings, involved a conspiracy to kill two Alaska State Troopers or state judges anytime a militia member was arrested or killed by authorities.
Prosecutors say the plot was concocted to protect Schaeffer Cox, the militia leader who was a fugitive last February for failing to appear at trial in February on misdemeanor weapons charges.
Coleman and Rachel Barney also are charged with harboring Cox as he hid from authorities.
I'm sorry but reducing this guy's bail to one-twentieth of what it was originally set is completely insane.
The guy was plotting to kill state judges and law enforcement officials, and these people want him out on the streets? The whole reason that it was set so high was to ensure he would NOT be getting out, so asking for it be reduced defeats the entire premise of setting such a high amount in the first place.
What, do they think this guy became LESS dangerous while sitting in his jail cell fuming over his incarceration and plotting his revenge?
And WHO would donate to the fund to get him out? Did they not see what this guy was charged with?
According to the complaint, "The plan would then have the tactical teams going to the target's houses, cutting the power, shooting the inhabitants as they come out to check on their power; then the team would kick the target's residence's doors in, kill everybody inside and set the house on fire. Then the team would lay in hiding and take out the initial responding officer before moving on to the next target."
What else does he have to do to demonstrate that he is mentally unstable and a danger to his community, dress in colonial garb while carrying an automatic weapon?
Oh yeah, that's right.
What in the hell is wrong with these people?
Isn't that Paul Revere?
ReplyDeleteThank heaven for those "less serious" federal charges. Seems like the justice system up there in Alaska is so corrupt that federal involvement is necessary.
ReplyDeleteWhere is his funny little hat?
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is part of a deal to get him to testify against the rest of them.
ReplyDeleteBut Gryphen, his church and his pastor know this guy, and are supporting him, so that makes him OK, right?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they'll say that he's really a nice family man who just
wants Alaska to secede, he even wants bible to become the basis for law and government
Defense lawyer:
"How can he be guilty your honor? Why he's a common sense conservative, also, too, and he's a Rill Amuricun like our foundin' fathers... they who were always prayin' to g-d and had Paul Revere with shots and bells."
$100 says the judge is either an AIP member, and /or an ultra right christian supremacist himself.
there's visible evidence that there's less risk of him re-offending or not showing up for trial --- he's shaved off the facial hair.
ReplyDeleteJust look at the expression on his face. He is in rapture, probably wishing he was back in colonial days, defending his land with his trusty AK-47. People like this really scare me. I hope he stays in jail for a long, long time.
ReplyDeleteIn the Tea Baggers' version of history book, facts are not relevant. Bachmann believes that a teenaged John Quincy Adams was a Founding Father. (She must have read that in one of Rick Perry's Texas revisionist history books.)
Why would they unleash him upon themselves? It makes NO SENSE! Gotta love the "churchgoers" who are going to go his bail, though.
ReplyDeleteWell, thank goodness for the Federal charges. It looks like if it weren't for those, he *would* be out. Bleeding heart judge? Just because his wife is having their next arrow in the quiver?
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. Who would be insane enough to lower the bail? And who would be insane enough to GIVE away their money, because they'll never get it back.
If this guy gets out, he is going to run.
Our police officers run enough risks with their lives without having people are planning to kill them out of jail. Yes, he is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but these charges are serious enough to keep him in jail until he gets his "speedy" trial.
ReplyDeleteSounds more corrupt than crazy.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the targeted judges would agree with this decision. I doubt it.
I suspect the troopers and police are going to watching this guy very closely. If not, then what is their problem?
That the families of these people had also been targeted should have counted more heavily into the decision. These people were making ruthless plans, intending to show no mercy whatsoever - including any pregnant wives or infants. Gees, Gryphen anyone who does not share your outrage is part of the problem.
What really seems unjust is that folks brought up on truly innocuous charges such as drug possession (user not dealers) often can't their bail reduced, but people intent upon premeditated murder, no problem?
I suspect we will have proof regarding how corrupt the judge is in 5, 4, 3...
ReplyDeleteThey let him out; he's so gonna' run!
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or does that assault weapon in that pose have some phallic significance?
ReplyDeleteNa.. I'm sure it's just me...
$100,000 bail???
ReplyDeleteOh yes, that does remind me.
http://alaskacommons.wordpress.com/2009/10/08/anchorage-rapist-revered-by-fellow-church-goers-is-that-okay-with-you/
Meet Anthony Rollins, a “decorated Anchorage police officer” and “13-year veteran and former department spokesman” [Juneau Empire, 7/16/09].
Since we’re already swept up in the current of quotes from the Juneau Empire, let’s continue, for kicks:
“Rollin, 41, is charged with four counts of first-degree sexual assault, six counts of second-degree sexual assault, four counts of criminal use of a computer and six counts of official misconduct.”
Fun fact: all these counts were tallied while Rollins was on duty. Not so good. Lock him up and throw away the key, and done deal, right? Nope.
Rollins was released on $100,000 bail and is now under house arrest. He also gets field trips every Sunday, because the judge recognized how important it was for him to attend his church. And what church does he attend? Christian Lighthouse Fellowship. And how might the judge have reached the conclusion to release an alleged serial rapist? Well, the fact that the church came together as a “community” in support of Rollins probably helped; Lighthouse parishioners packed the courthouse, leaving standing room only, even forcing the alleged victims to be packed against the wall while people stood in a pathetic brand of solidarity in support of their fellow Christian; someone who may have raped a half dozen women, while wearing a badge.
They could have escorted him to the hospital so he could attend the birth and then taken him back to jail. I guess they need to let the other conspirators out on bail now, too. Sickening!
ReplyDeleteOutrageous. Increasingly, I am more than convinced Alaska courts are derelict in their duties.
ReplyDelete10:05 a.m. I agree, this is crap. Bachman and Palin seem to get passes for their gaffes, outright lies and ignorance. I call it BS.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the judge is rightfully worried that other militia members will target him and his family?
ReplyDeleteSo he reduces the bail, looking like a good guy to said militia and thereby removing himself as a target. All the while he secretly is relying on the fact that the Feds will not allow bail for their charges.
VHTG
From what I've read both here and on Malia's blog, the amount of corruption in Law Enforcement in Alaska is mind boggling.
ReplyDeleteOne would think that plotting to kill State Troopers and judges would warrant even a higher bail than originally set, and this asshat gets support letters from churches?
WTF is right.
Note to Levi - give this lawyer a buzz, or at least a phone call.
I believe one church in FBKS has been involved with some of the group members allowing meetings on interpretation of the constitution or something similar. Think the congregation may be affiliated with a mega church in Anchorage.
ReplyDelete