A Utah man indicted by a Montana federal grand jury in connection with the Freemen incident in that state has demanded a removal hearing, which will be held before he can be taken to Montana.
Elwin Ward appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Samuel Alba, who set a hearing for Wednesday. Alba determined that Ward is indigent and entitled to have an attorney appointed for him by the court. Ward asked for an identity hearing under federal Rule 40, to which he is entitled before he can be to moved to another state.Ward was told he had a right to plead guilty if he wished and that he should discuss all matters with his attorneys before the next hearing, which is set for 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The Billings, Montana, federal grand jury indicted Ward and seven others on a charge of giving aid and comfort to others facing charges of bank fraud, mail fraud and firearms violations.