Judge to rule on release of 8 militia suspects

[April 20, 2010]  DETROIT (AP) -- A federal judge is expected to decide whether eight suspected members of a Christian militia accused of conspiring to overthrow the government will stay in jail until trial.

U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Donald A. Scheer in Detroit said Thursday he needed more time to decide whether to grant prosecutors' request that the eight remain locked up. A decision was expected Friday.

The eight are suspected members of a group called the Hutaree, based in Michigan. They're charged with seditious conspiracy, attempting to use weapons of mass destruction and other crimes.

Prosecutors say they planned to make a false 911 call, kill responding police officers and set off a bomb at the funeral to kill many more.

[Associated Press; By JEFF KAROUB]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.