MI Judge Orders 5 Men To Trial In Whitmer Kidnapping Plot

TRAVERSE CITY, MI — Five men associated with the Wolverine Watchmen are facing terrorism charges in connection to a foiled plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Shawn Fix, 38, of Belleville, Eric Molitor, 36, of Cadillac, Michael Null, 38, of Plainwell, William Null, 38, of Shelbyville and Brian Higgins, 51, of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin were each charged with providing material support for terrorist acts, which carries a 20-year felony and/or $20,000 fine.

The four men from Michigan were also charged with carrying or possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony, which a two-year mandatory prison sentence to be served consecutively.

Traverse City Judge Michael Stepka order the five men to stand trial in Antrim County, where Whitmer’s Elk Rapids vacation home is located and where prosecutors said the abduction was to happen. Their next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 19.

Prosecutors said all five men joined meetings and paramilitary training sessions to discuss the plot. Four of the men also scouted Whitmer's vacation house and its surroundings, as well as talking about blowing up a bridge to slow down police from responding, prosecutors said.

The men also made threats of violence hoping to start a civil war that would lead to a societal collapse and engaged in the planning and training for the plot, including attacking the state Capitol building and kidnapping government officials, including Whitmer, prosecutors said.

"They knew what they were doing," Stepka said at the hearing. "They were all involved in the plot to kidnap the governor."

So far, 14 people have been arrested in connection to the kidnapping plot, including two who pleaded guilty. Kaleb Franks, 28, from Waterford, was sentenced to four years in prison and Ty Garbin was sentenced to 30 months.

Adam Fox and Barry Croft, who prosecutors said were the ringleaders in the plot, were also convicted by a jury of conspiring to kidnap Whitmer and planning to use weapons of mass destruction against people and property. They will be sentenced in December.

Two others, Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were acquitted by a jury on all charges.

"This bind over sends a clear message that acts of domestic terrorism will not be tolerated," Nessel said. "Those who threaten our law enforcement agents and public officials endanger our entire state and must be held accountable."