Lawyers for NATO Protesters Charged with Terrorism Obtain Copy of Indictments
http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2012/06/20/lawyers-for-nato-protesters-charged-with-terrorism-obtain-copy-of-indictments/
Lawyers for NATO Protesters Charged with Terrorism Obtain Copy of Indictments
By: Kevin Gosztola Wednesday June 20, 2012 12:50
Lawyers representing three individuals who came to Chicago in May to protest at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and who were indicted just over a week ago on terrorism-related charges have obtained a copy of the indictments.
The lawyers from the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) had expected to see official indictments when the three were formally indicted in court, but prosecutors declined to provide a copy of the indictment to the defense, a decision the judge presiding over the hearing called a little strange.
The judge had the power to compel state prosecutors to hand over the indictment to the defense, but did not make such an order. The judge instead made it clear the prosecutors had to provide the indictment to the defense by July 2, when the three are scheduled to be arraigned.
The National Lawyers Guild obtained the indictment from the Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court. What the indictment shows is the three Brian Church, 22, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jared Chase, 27, of Keene, New Hampshire, and Brent Betterly, 24, who lives in Massachusettsare not just facing charges of material support for terrorism, possession of an incendiary device, and conspiracy to commit terrorism, which were previously known to the lawyers and the public. The three also face charges of possession of an incendiary device, attempted arson, solicitation to commit arson, conspiracy to commit arson and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon. That brings the total number of charges the men face to eleven.
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