Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the trial of three militia members accused of conspiring to bomb an apartment complex housing Somalis (all times local):
2:40 p.m.
Jury selection has begun for three militia members accused of conspiring to bomb an apartment complex housing Somalis in Kansas.
Patrick Stein, Gavin Wright and Curtis Allen are charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiracy against civil rights. Stein also faces a weapons-related charge and Wright has an additional charge of lying to the FBI.
Questioning on Tuesday sought to flush out views on gun rights, immigration and racial issues.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mattivi asked prospective jurors whether the U.S. should limit the number of refugees.
Defense attorney Jim Pratt, who represents Stein, asked them whether there was anyone who's not offended by defining another human being as a cockroach or defining a group of people as an infestation.
___
1 a.m.
A trial begins this week for three members of a militia group accused of conspiring to bomb a mosque and apartment complex housing Somalis in the Kansas town of Garden City.
Patrick Stein, Gavin Wright and Curtis Allen are charged with conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiracy against civil rights. Stein also faces a weapons-related charge and Wright has an additional charge of lying to the FBI.
They all have pleaded not guilty.
Their trial is expected to last six weeks, with jury selection beginning Tuesday.
Prosecutors say a militia member tipped off federal authorities after becoming alarmed by the heightening talk of violence, and later agreed to wear a wire as a paid informant. The monthslong investigation features hours of profanity-laced recordings discussing the alleged plot.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
