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Feds Seek Prison For Michigan Militia Leader

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - Prosecutors are urging a judge to send the leader of a southern Michigan militia to prison for possessing a machine gun and other illegal weapons.

David Stone is returning to Detroit federal court this week. In March, he and other members of the Hutaree were cleared of conspiring to rebel against the government.

Prosecutors said Hutaree members were anti-government rebels who combined training and strategy sessions to prepare for a violent strike against federal law enforcement. Defense lawyers said the Hutaree were simply "weekend warriors" who engaged in stupid, hateful speech, but nothing criminal. They said offensive talk was wrongly turned into a high-profile criminal case.

But in a trial that began in early February, federal District Judge Victoria Roberts said she did not find that the government's evidence sufficiently proved that the Hutaree militia had planned a conspiracy against the government.

After the more serious charges were dropped, Stone pleaded guilty to a gun crime.

In a court filing Wednesday, prosecutors asked for a 41-month prison term. Stone likely would get credit for two years spent in jail before trial. He hopes the judge considers the jail time as enough punishment.

Prosecutors say Stone was a serious threat and still isn't remorseful. Separately, the government wants a 33-month prison sentence for Stone's son, Joshua. He also served two years in jail before trial.

TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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