Posted on 04/05/2002 2:39:01 AM PST by toddst
Posted on Fri, Apr. 05, 2002 WANTED MILITIA LEADER SURRENDERS PUCKETT HAD FLED FROM HOUSE ARREST By Louise Taylor and Greg Kocher HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITERS
Charlie Puckett, the commander of the Kentucky State Militia, quietly turned himself in to authorities yesterday after three weeks on the lam and was promptly lodged in the Fayette County jail.
During a brief hearing in U.S. District Court, Puckett's attorney, Gatewood Galbraith, stipulated that his client had slipped out of an electronic monitor and "absconded" from house arrest on March 13.
"We don't want to insult this court's intelligence," Galbraith told Magistrate Judge James Todd.
Puckett vanished late March 13, perhaps inspired to flee because that same night a note was left on the door of his Garrard County home saying he "was going to be the target of an assassination attempt by federal agents," Galbraith said outside court.
"Agents provocateurs may have planted the note," Galbraith said, explaining that another militia group, Republic of Texas, has been trying to tell its Kentucky cousins how to operate and wanted to use Puckett's indictment on federal weapons charges to provoke a "confrontation."
Puckett has said that he is the commander of the Kentucky State Militia, a civilian paramilitary group that experts think is one of the most active in the country.
The February indictment charges Puckett with being a felon illegally owning guns, pipe bombs and almost 35,000 rounds of ammunition. A revised indictment later added a count saying Puckett intimidated a witness.
Puckett called the seizure of his guns and weapons a theft of private property and a violation of his rights. He argued that the 1968 federal gun control act prohibiting felons from owning guns does not apply to him because he was convicted of a felony two years before the law's enactment.
After Puckett vanished -- and Galbraith said yesterday he did not know where he went -- Galbraith suggested that Puckett may have been kidnapped. Galbraith said many "scoffed" at him over the kidnapping remark, but that he has known Puckett for almost a decade and that he is not the sort to flee. "Charlie is not a scofflaw. ... I knew something extraordinary had happened.
"His son told me that after Charlie got that letter (on his door), he acted differently.... That note fit the extraordinary aspect of it."
That son, Charles D. Puckett, had also been missing. But after he determined that no charges were pending against him he arranged for his father's surrender yesterday to Joe Walker, the Jessamine County sheriff. Walker could not be reached for comment yesterday, but Galbraith said Walker is a friend of Puckett and will testify on his behalf at trial. Puckett is to be arraigned Tuesday on the new indictment and a trial date will be set then.
Garrard County Sheriff Ronnie Wardrip, who knows Puckett, said he was pleased with yesterday's outcome.
"I'm just glad he turned himself in," Wardrip said. "I think he will fare better out of it."
Galbraith said he had spoken only briefly with Puckett since his surrender, but that he thought Puckett would leave the helm of the militia. "There's just too much politics in it," Galbraith said. "He wants to get back with his wife and work on cars."
Meanwhile, Puckett has a major court battle looming that Galbraith said he will win. One count against Puckett -- intimidating a witness -- was simply baffling, Galbraith added: "But if it's as flimsy as the government's other nine charges, bring it on."
Asked why Puckett hadn't simply sought police help after the assassination note, Galbraith said the government had not shown itself to be a friend of his client.
Said Galbraith: "Henry Kissinger used to say, 'It's OK to be paranoid because there is a they out there, and they are out to get you.'"
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Reach Louise Taylor at (859) 231-3205, 1-800-950-6397 Ext. 3205 or ltaylor@herald-leader.com. Reach Greg Kocher in the Nicholasville bureau at (859) 885-5775 or gkocher1@herald-leader.com.
" You should buy a copy of the video - Waco, A New Revelation. You can watch the overhead IR tape of what happened when people tried to leave."
Where can one get that video?
And Bush and O'Neil answer to the American people, right?
Before you open your big mouth I suggest you read more about Mr. Puckett. Go to www.awrm.org and read some threads about him.
Anderson.
I saw the video of the note, said so earlier. In my view the plea bargain agreement and records (now sealed by the judge) shut this whole defense of Mr. Puckett down. The note became unimportant.
The ATF got what it wanted by stacking up charges, overwhelming the '68 issue (Mr. Pucketts' crime was pre-'68) and offering a "good deal" with many charges dropped.
No appeal is possible, by signed agreement. The ATF wanted a win against a "bad guy" and that's what the judge made certain would happen. Very disgusting situation IMHO.
The case is not sealed. Motion by USA to unseal case was ordered by Judge Todd on 3/14/02
MOTION to unseal case by USA as to Charles N. Puckett (lkm) [Entry date 03/18/02]
3/14/02 23 ORDER by Mag Judge James B. Todd granting motion to unseal case [22-1] (cc: all counsel) (lkm) [Entry date 03/18/02]
Here is the link. It only works if you are a subscriber of the PACER service.
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