Freemen Supporter Ordered To Trial

Freeman sympathizer Stewart Douglas Waterhouse was ordered held for trial Wednesday on a charge that he ran a roadblock and entered the freemen compound with an assault rifle.

Waterhouse, 37, is accused of being an accessory after the fact for eluding law officers to enter the compound northwest of Jordan, Mont., on March 29, four days after the standoff began.

He emerged from the compound and surrendered to FBI agents on April 27.

In a preliminary hearing Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Richard Anderson ruled there was probable cause to hold Waterhouse for trial.

In testimony, FBI agent Randy Jackson testified that Waterhouse ran an FBI roadblock, ignored Montana Highway Patrol officers pursuing him with lights and sirens on, and drove onto the property where about 20 anti-government freemen are holed up.

According to court documents, Waterhouse admitted to FBI agents that he brought he assault rifle onto the property and provided surveillance and guard duty for the freemen.

Jackson said Waterhouse’s actions hindered the ability of FBI agents to apprehend fugitives within the compound.

Waterhouse’s court-appointed attorney, Jeff Lynch of Great Falls, disputed the federal government’s case, arguing there was insufficient evidence to support the charges.

Waterhouse, of Osage, Ark., has identified himself as the second-in-command of a militia group based in Kansas. He is being held without bond in the Yellowstone County Jail.

xxxx