Accused Utah militia leader to remain behind bars

SALT LAKE CITY — A federal judge doesn't want to wait and see whether a Utah militia group leader accused of trying to blow up a federally owned cabin in rural Arizona would also try to take out people.

William Keebler, 57, will remain in the Weber County Jail pending a trial on one count of attempting to damage federal property with an explosive, U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead ruled Thursday.

Pead described the bombing attempt as "highly premeditated," and though the intent wasn't to hurt people, Keebler showed indifference to any bystanders who could have been there.

In addition to targeting buildings, Keebler told militia members he would take out people if necessary, Pead said. The judge said he wasn't willing to see if Keebler acts on that objective.

Two of Keebler's friends said after the hearing that government agents set him up.

"The only thing that they can say that he did is push a button, and that remains to be seen. They came up with the idea. They built (the explosive devices). They test detonated. They put them at the building and set them and then said, 'Here, here's the trigger,'" said Lor Potts, of West Jordan.

Pete Olson, of West Valley City, said he's known Keebler for about a year and has attended some of his "patriot" events. He said without the FBI's involvement and encouragement, nothing would have happened.

"No patriot I've ever talked to would have agreed or hatched this plan whatsoever," he said.

On Wednesday, FBI agents testified that Keebler also scouted mosques and U.S. military facilities as possible targets.

Keebler, who authorities say has ties to Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, took video of an unidentified mosque and cased federal offices such as National Guard facilities before settling on the remote cabin, FBI agent Steve Daniels said.

Keebler's militia had seven members, including three who were actually undercover FBI agents, Daniels said.

Undercover agents built the inert explosive device and placed it against a cabin door last week before handing Keebler the remote detonator, defense attorney Lynn Donaldson told the judge. Some of Keebler's so-called reconnaissance involved simply driving by offices, he said.

"Not liking a particular religion or minority group or action of the federal government is not illegal. It's just not politically correct," Donaldson said.

FBI: Utah militia leader accused of trying to blow up cabin cased mosque, military facilities

A Utah militia group leader accused of trying to blow up a federally owned cabin in rural Arizona also scouted mosques and U.S. military facilities as possible targets, an FBI agent testified on Wednesday.

But prosecutors contend Keebler wanted to use explosives and was also willing to shoot people if anyone came after the group when he detonated the device. He had an AR-15-style gun, a handgun and "lots of ammo," Daniels said.

"It doesn't get too much more serious than detonating a bomb," said prosecutor Andrew Choate.

The FBI started investigating Keebler after he took part in a 2014 armed standoff with federal officials at Bundy's Nevada ranch over unpaid grazing fees, Daniels said.

Keebler considered the grazing restrictions harassment and wanted to blow up federal property to retaliate, charges state. The cabin the group eventually settled on is in the northern Arizona area of Mount Trumbull.

Keebler was also an associate of Arizona rancher Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, who served as a spokesman for Bundy's son, Ammon Bundy, and other ranchers involved in an armed standoff at an Oregon wildlife refuge earlier this year, prosecutors say. Finicum was shot and killed by authorities during a Jan. 26 traffic stop that led to Ammon Bundy's arrest.

Keebler raises his own chickens and rabbits on a farm in Stockton, Tooele County, and suffers from several health problems, Donaldson said. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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