Gun dealer indicted during Hutaree probe is acquitted of federal gun charge

AnnArbor.com ^ | 12-10-2010 | Lee Higgins

[Darren McCarty]

An Adrian gun dealer who gained national media attention after federal prosecutors alleged he was affiliated with Hutaree militia members, was acquitted of a gun charge Thursday by a federal jury in Detroit, court records show.

Walter Priest, 53, the owner of Gun Outfitters LLC was found not guilty of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

He was accused of selling a rifle with a partial serial number to a Lansing area man on July 4, 2008. Priest was indicted in April and was out on a $100,000 unsecured bond.

“I’m thrilled,” Priest said. “The power of the Lord was involved in this. I never had any doubt that we were going to be cleared of it.”

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning the verdict in front of U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds, said Priest's lawyer, Harold Gurewitz. Jury selection began Dec. 2 and the trial wrapped up early Thursday afternoon.

"Obviously, the jury spoke, I think absolutely clearly because it came back so quickly," Gurewitz said. "I think it shouldn't have been brought in the first place."

Gurewitz contends that his client was hurt by rumors about being linked with Hutaree militia members, who are accused of plotting to kill police and are awaiting trial.

"There certainly is the appearance that but for these unfortunate rumors, he wouldn't have been charged with this offense," he said.

[Darren McCarty]

I'm starting to get a real eerily feeling about this whole case. Less than 3 hour deliberation tells me there is little question here of a not guilty verdict.

[goldstategop]

The Feds never proved he sold a gun to any one with a criminal record.

Hence the speedy acquittal.

[cripplecreek]

The original judge who was willing to release them on bond pretty much declared that the feds had no case and she was a Clinton appointed black female judge.

[Cicero]

I had the feeling from the start that the whole thing was a politically convenient frameup.

From what I’ve read, it sounds as if the Hutaree people are a bit flakey, but guilty of nothing more than that. And that’s not a crime.

The administration just wanted someone they could accuse of being dangerous right-wing militia members, to balance out all those Muslim terrorists. (Muslim. Terrorist. Words they refuse to use.)

[backwoods-engineer]

The whole thing was nothing but a BATFE “F-Troop” jack-booted-thug railroad deal anyway.

[Publius6961]

Ever since I decided to be honest and up front about my opinion of the judicial system, I have not had to worry about serving on a jury.
Even the suggestion of the possibility of jury nullification makes all the major players' (judge, defense attorney and prosecutor) heads explode.
Just because something is deemed a law, doesn't mean it is immune to misapplication or abuse.

[Still Thinking]

And nullification is a bulwark against laws we the people don’t agree with as well.

[SunkenCiv]

gained national media attention after federal prosecutors alleged he was affiliated with Hutaree militia members

Thanks Darren McCarty.

[OneWingedShark]

>Just because something is deemed a law, doesn’t mean it is immune to misapplication or abuse.

Very true, and just because there’s a law it doesn’t mean that it is valid.

[grellis]

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

[CSM]

Hmm, for some reason I haven’t heard hide nor hair of this on the MSM.....Those darn right wing extremists are all terrorists ya know.

Thanks for posting.