Son Of Militia Leader Charges Prejudice

The Montana Supreme Court has agreed to consider claims by the son of a militia leader that he is being unfairly punished because of officials prejudiced against anti-government groups.

The court ordered the attorney general and Ravalli County attorney to reply to Shad Greenup’s petition, which was filed with the court this week.

Greenup’s written argument claims he is being persecuted by officials trying to target the militia movement in Ravalli County.

“The persecution of Shad Greenup is merely an additional activity of a paranoid faction of officials intent to become known for their ability to regulate and control crime,” he said.

Greenup is protesting the revocation of his probation last month because of a fight between him and his father-in-law.

Greenup, son of North American Volunteer Militia leader Cal Greenup, had been given a 10-year sentence and put on probation for his role in an April 1995 confrontation between armed anti-government extremists and lawmen in Darby.

In April, Greenup pleaded guilty to abusing his wife, Jill, by grabbing his her wrist and throat while she held their 6-week-old son.

However, his probation was revoked last month because of the incident with his in-laws in Libby. On May 12, a complaint filed in Lincoln County by Jay and Judy Loveless, parents of Jill Greenup, alleged a fight broke out during which Greenup broke his mother-in-law’s nose.

But Greenup told the Supreme Court his father-in-law attacked him. He said he obtained a Justice Court restraining order against Jay Loveless the following day.