KENOSHA – Kenosha County prosecutors are trying to amend Kyle Rittenhouse’s bond deal after the 18-year-old blinked white light signals as he posed for photos, drank several beers and was “serenaded in loud “with the official song of the Proud Boys Bar Mount Pleasant.
Rittenhouse, accused of shooting and killing two people and injuring a third during protests and riots in Kenosha last summer, was released from the Kenosha County Jail on $ 2 million bail. This bail agreement, in its current state, does not restrict Rittenhouse from entering a bar or drinking alcohol — as minors are allowed in the company of parents in Wisconsin — nor does it prevent him from fraternizing with known members of Wisconsin. white supremacist groups. .
In a motion to amend Rittenhouse’s bond Wednesday, the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office details Rittenhouse’s January 5 visit to Pudgy’s pub with his mother. Rittenhouse stopped at Mount Pleasant Tavern shortly after pleading not guilty to murder charges related to the Kenosha shooting. Rittenhouse’s lawyers argue that he fired his rifle in self-defense.
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Prosecutors are now asking for Rittenhouse’s bail to be changed to include the following:
- The defendant is prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol.
- The accused must not be present in any establishment where alcohol is served.
- The defendant is prohibited from publicly displaying any sign, symbol or gesture with the hands of “white power” or “white supremacy”.
- The accused will have no contact with known militia members or known members of any group or violent organization of white power / white supremacism, including, among others, the group identified as the “Proud Boys.”
Kenosha County District Attorney
According to documents from Kenosha’s prospectors on Wednesday, Rittenhouse, his mother and several other adults arrived at Pudgy’s pub on Washington Avenue. Local police were soon notified of Rittenhouse’s presence there and subsequently gathered surveillance video and footage of his visit to the bar. [Those photos are included in this article].
Rittenhouse was at the bar for about an hour and a half, according to prosecutors. He was wearing a T-shirt that said “Free as F ***.”
After arriving at the bar, Rittenhouse posted photos with two more men from his group. In these photos, Rittenhouse and the other men showed the “OK” sign, which white supremacists have co-opted as a sign of “white power,” according to prosecutors.
Kenosha County District Attorney
After posing for the photos, Rittenhouse walked into the bar and the bartender received a beer, the motion states. He consumed a total of three beers during his time at Pudgy’s.
Within minutes of entering the bar, Rittenhouse was also “serenaded” by five adult men in her group with the song “Proud of Your Boy,” an obscure song written for the 1992 Disney film “Aladdin.” , according to prosecutors.
In fact, the white supremacist group, the Proud Boys, bore the name of this song, and the song is sung by members of the group, the motion says.
Kenosha County District Attorney
Rittenhouse posted several more photos with the men at the bar. In each of these photos, Rittenhouse and the rest of the men displayed the “OK” sign used by white supremacists, according to prosecutors.
“The defendant remained with these‘ Proud Boys ’for the entire time he was at the bar,” the motion says.
Kenosha County District Attorney
Motion to modify the Rittenhouse bond
Prosecutors thus argue in their motion that Rittenhouse should not first be allowed to own or consume alcohol. They claim Rittenhouse was 17 when he allegedly shot the three victims; who is now 18 years old and a resident of Illinois; they argue that such consumption may increase the likelihood of criminal and violent acts, combined with the reality that Rittenhouse is charged with the most serious felony in Wisconsin, first-degree intentional homicide.
Prosecutors also argue that Rittenhouse should be restricted to association with known militia members or known members of violent groups, white power, or white supremacist groups. They argue that the group has defended violence, participated in extremist rallies and movements and its members have been arrested for committing crimes.
Prosecutors write: “The defendant’s continued association with members of a group that prides itself on violence and the use of its symbols raises the potential for significant future harm. In addition, this association can serve to intimidate potential witnesses, who may not be willing to testify in this case because they may fear that the defendant’s associates are harming them or their families. “
Rittenhouse will return to Kenosha County Court on March 10 for his final pre-trial appearance.
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