Freeman Ordered Held Without Bond

Freeman Richard E. Clark was ordered held without bond Wednesday on federal conspiracy, weapons, fraud and other charges, the judge ruling he was a flight risk and danger to the community.

Clark told U.S. Magistrate Richard Anderson he wouldn’t post bond even if allowed in order to avoid granting jurisdiction to the court.

“I’m satisfied right where I’m at,” he said. Clark is being held in the Yellowstone County jail.

Clark turned himself into FBI agents Saturday near Grassrange, unarmed and without incident.

“If I was a flight risk or danger to the community, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Clark said during his arraignment on Monday that he gave himself up to protect innocent people from being murdered. He refused to enter pleas and Anderson entered innocent pleas on Clark’s behalf.

Like other freemen arrested last week, Clark, 47, of Brusett, refuses to acknowledge the court’s jurisdiction, claiming he is a freeborn American national.

Clark is accused in two federal indictments totaling 55 counts, including conspiracy and fraud in a scheme to pass worthless checks, threatening to kill U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom and armed robbery that involved taking camera and sound equipment from a network television news crew.