Three in plot to kidnap Whitmer have regional ties
Who are the Oakland County men charged?
Three men from Oakland County are key players accused in a Michigan plot that has dominated national headlines.
Federal and state authorities arrested and charged 13 men with multiple felonies after allegedly plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer fromher Elk Rapids vacation home prior to the Nov. 3 election.
Six of the men were charged in federal court by the U.S. Attorney’s Office while seven others were charged with state felonies by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. The federal charges carry sentences up to life in prison while the state charges carry prison sentences of up to 22 to 44 years.
As of Friday, six of the seven individuals facing terrorism and other state felony charges had been arraigned, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel The seventh, Milford resident Paul Bellar, is awaiting extradition to Michigan. In total, 19 state felony charges were filed byNessel against those seven individuals
The men were members of the Wolverine Watch men or associates of the group, an anti-government, antilaw enforcement militia group accused of attempting to commit several crimes, including kidnapping public officials.
Court documents show that “the Wolverine Watchmen have called on members to identify law enforcement officers’ home addresses in order to target the officers, have made threats of violence to instigate a civil war leading to societal collapse, and have engaged in planning and training for an operation to attack the Capitol of Michigan, and kidnap Government officials including the Governor of Michigan.”
According to Michigan State Police, the group and its associates have made terroristic threats towards government officials, includingWhitmer, and organizations and providedmaterial support for planned acts of terrorism.
In early 2020, the FBI became aware of groups of individuals in several states that were discussing a violent overthrow of government and law enforcement entities. These groups agreed to unite others in their cause and take violent action against government entities they believed to be violating the U.S. Constitution, driven in part by anger over restrictions put in place to curb the coronavirus after the pandemic arrived in Michigan.
Three of themen charged are from Oakland County. Here’s what we know about them:
• Paul Edward Bellar, 22 Bell ar ,22, is from Milford. He’s charged with providing material support for terrorist acts (a 20year felony), gang membership (a 20-year felony), and carrying or possessing a firearmduring the commission of a felony (a two-year felony). He faces up to 44 years in prison if convicted.
Bellarwas arrested in Columbia, South Carolina, on Wednesday. State authorities are attempting to have him extradited toMichigan for arraignment on charges in Jackson County, according to the state’s attorney general’s office.
No court dates have been set, according to Nessel. He’s currently lodged at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia, South Carolina.
State authorities alleged in court papers that Bellar “was appointed the role of Sergeant,” and “had specific expertise in medical and firearms training and designed tactical exercises for training.”
According to state court documents, Bellar conspired with others and providedmaterial support and resources to support terrorist acts.
“In particular, Paul Bellar has provided plans for tactical maneuvers at trainings, coded language for covert communication, hosted meetings at his residence, provided ammunition, and coordinated logistics for trainings,” read the court documents.
“While providing material support to a terrorist, Paul Bellar was in possession of a firearm,” according to state authorities.
According to court records, Bellar lived for a period
of time at the Childs Lake Estates, a mobile home park off Old Plank Road in Wixom. Records show that by the end of July 2020, an eviction noticewas filed in 52-2 District Court. On Sept. 10, the landlord agreed to dismiss the case, according to court records.
Federal charges
• Kaleb James Franks, 26 Frankswas born in 1994 and is a resident of Waterford Township. He’s currently lodged in the Kent County Jail on a charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which carries a prison sentence of up to life in prison.
Oakland County property records show Franks bought aWaterford residence, located along Holbrook Avenue, in 2018.
According to court records, on June 28, Franks attended a tactical training exercise at theMunith, Michigan, home of militia members Peter Musico and Joseph Morrison, both of whomwere also charged with felonies by state authorities. The training was attended by six others, including two confidential human sources, or informants.
On July 7, Franks attended a meeting at the residence of another militia group member, with two confidential informants also in attendance. Federal authorities accuse Franks of saying that he was “not cool with offensive kidnapping” and added that he was “just there for training,” or words to that effect, according to court documents. After the meeting, Franks, allegedly, actively continued to participate in the kidnapping plot.
Over the weekend of July 10-12, Franks allegedly participated in firearms training and other combat drills with four other militia members in Cambria, Wisconsin. Federal authorities report that Franks also brought and fired a rifle with a silencer at the exercise.
On Aug. 9, Franks and four other militia members are accused of participating in a tactical training inMunith. When asked about kidnapping W hit mer, Franks allegedly said, “OK sounds good, I’min for anything as long as it’s well planned.”
On Aug. 18, in an encrypted group chat that included Franks and three others, Franks expressed interest in taking part in a surveillance of the governor’s vacation home in Elk Rapids, according to court documents. At that time, Franks told the group that he had recently spent almost $4,000 on a helmet and night vision goggles.
Over the weekend of Sept. 12-13, federal authorities accuse Franks of attending field training exercises at the home of a militia member in Luther, Michigan, about an hour and a half fromWhitmer’s Elk Rapids vacation home. Franks was one of several people selected to conduct a nighttime surveillance of the vacation home in preparation for the kidnapping, according to court records.
During the late night of Sept. 12 and early morning of Sept. 13, the group allegedly drove from Luther to the vicinity of the vacation home in three separate vehicles. During the ride back to Luther, Michigan, Franks stated, “We’re doin’ all the reconnaissance work, so it should go smooth.”
After arriving back at Luther property, Franks stated, “Kidnapping, arson, death. I don’t care.” The group then started discussing destroying the vacation home.
On the morning of Sept. 13, the group reconvened in Luther to finalize plans to kidnap Whitmer.
• Daniel Joseph Harris, 23
Harris was born in 1997 and is a resident of Lake Orion. He’s currently lodged in the Kent County Jail on a charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, which carries a prison sentence of up to life in prison.
On July 18 of this year, Harris was among a group who met in Ohio, according to charging documents. The attendees, federal authorities allege, “discussed attacking a Michigan State Police facility.”
On Aug. 9, Harris and four other militia members participated in a tactical training in Munith. When asked about kidnapping Whitmer, Harris is accused of saying, “Have one person go to her house. Knock on the door and when she answers it, just cap her...”
On Aug. 23, Harris hosted seven others at his home in Lake Orion. The group discussed concerns about being infiltrated by law enforcement. All attendees were required to bring personal documents to confirmtheir identities, according to court documents. Over the weekend of Sept. 12-13, federal authorities also accuse Harris of attending those field training exercises in Luther. Harris was also selected as one of several people to conduct a nighttime surveillance of the governor’s vacation home.
Harris and two others did not make the drive up to Elk Rapids, but remained back in Luther, according to court records. Federal authorities say Harris became aware of the surveillance the next day, and he expressed regret that he had not participated in the surveillance operation.
On Sept. 13, Harris joined the group, again back at the Luther home, to finalize plans to kidnap Whitmer.
On Thursday, details of the planning undertaken became public after FBI and state agencies moved in the prior night for a series of raids across the state, including in Lake Orion and Clarkston in Oakland County, seemingly ending the plot but also shining a light on the extent of a willingness to bring political violence to Michigan.