Posted on 12/14/2001 8:11:16 PM PST by Wasichu
Feds Investigate Kentucky Militia Leader
LOUISVILLE, Ky., 9:12 p.m. EST December 12, 2001 -
The leader of the Kentucky state militia is the target of a federal investigation now that weapons have been confiscated from his home.
NewsChannel 32 has learned that Charlie Puckett is a convicted felon, but was able to get a license from the state of Kentucky to carry a concealed weapon.
NewsChannel 32's Andy Alcock reported exclusively Wednesday that Puckett can't legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Back in April, Puckett attended a national gathering of militia groups in Grayson County. Critics said that those groups had radical views about government infringement in America.
But just two weeks ago, federal agents raided Puckett's home in Lancaster, Ky., and seized the following:
--Assault weapons
--Handguns
--Sniper rifles
--Parts of explosive devices
--Booby-trap devices
--Almost 40,000 rounds of ammunition
"Unfortunately, I can't say I was shocked to find what we found," Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms spokesman Karl Stankovic told Alcock. "I've been in the business for 30 years, and I've investigated numerous cases where you find people with large amounts of weapons."
Alcock obtained court records that show that Puckett has a criminal record, which includes the following charges:
--Six counts of indecent exposure in Virginia, including to minors
--Three separate charges of disorderly conduct, including a 1972 incident that required a visit to the University of Kentucky Mental Hospital
--One felony count of burglary in Virginia in 1967, which made it illegal for him to posseess a firearm or ammunition
State investigators weren't aware of the Virginia felony conviction until federal agents brought it to their attention. In the meantime, Puckett qualified for a concealed-weapon license, which was confiscated in last month's raid.
"No system is perfect," Kentucky State Police spokeswoman Lisa Kudzinksi (pictured, right) said. "We, in the state of Kentucky, have an internal record, but we also have to depend on the information nationwide that other law enforcement agencies provide."
Other Kentucky Militia Members Investigated
Puckett apparently isn't the only member of the Kentucky militia with a criminal background. The ATF has a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Steve Anderson.
Anderson is accused of firing several gunshots at a Bell County sheriff's deputy after he fled from a routine traffic stop back in October. He's wanted for attempted murder. Agents found a large amount of ammunition and several pipe bombs from Anderson's abandoned vehicle. He's also wanted for violations of federal explosives laws.
Also in October, 24-year-old Christopher Salyers pleaded guilty to federal charges of illegal possession of a machine gun, silencer, sawed-off rifle and sawed-off shotgun.
"The fact that they're militia members is actually secondary," Stankovic (pictured, above) said. "We act on information of violations of law."
Press Conference Scheduled For Thursday
A friend of Puckett's, Norm Davis, said that Puckett is being represented by Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith, who ran unsuccessfully for governor as an independent candidate.
Galbraith was unavailable for comment, but Davis said that Galbraith has scheduled a press conference for Thursday in Lexington.
Puckett Made Strong Comments On Radio Shows
Agents began investigating Puckett after he made inflammatory statements on two separate radio programs. In one statement, Puckett said that if any ATF agents were to come to his home, "The Garrard County coroner would have a mess on his hands."
On another occasion, Puckett reportedly said that the militia would guard the McCreary County Courthouse from any attempts to remove the Ten Commandments, and said that if anyone would try to do so, "It would be lock-and-load time."
Wasichu
This story gives greater details on the charges the feds have drudged up from the past, what was seized, and details on the Steve Anderson connection.
This is the latest Patriot to be targeted by the ATF for militia activities. Who's next?
Wasichu
Who's the boneheaded militia commander who inducted this creep into the militia in the first place?
Militia Son Claims He Was Profiled
Lexington, KY, Dec. 13 -
Lexington lawyer Gatewood Galbraith says the constitutional rights of his client, the son of a former Kentucky State Militia leader, were violated. The news comes more than a week after weapons were seized from his father's home in Garrard County.
Galbraith says a memo sent within the Kentucky State Police agency has several false statements and puts Charlie D. Puckett in danger.
Galbraith says the memo claims the younger Puckett may harbor resentment and notes he may act violently. It also says to consider him armed and dangerous and that he has made threatening statements towards law enforcement.
"This man has been seriously harmed. He's afraid to walk the streets, he's afraid to drive his car, he's afraid to appear in public. Why shouldn't he be? It's a virtual wanted poster," Galbraith says.
Wasichu
It does not say that any convictions resulted on the first two cases, and the third has already been discussed as having been a misdemeanor at the time.
I hope you don't have any youthful indiscretions the Feds can hit you with, when the time is right. The fact remains that Charlie Puckett has been a tireless worker for the Patriotic causes.
Wasichu
It seems like some of these 'groups' are missing a key ingredient for successful survival in a society with duly constituted and written laws - common sense.
NewsChannel 32 has learned that Charlie Puckett is a convicted felon,
It seems that you don`t do any research before you make blanket statements.
Militia Leader's Son Claims He's Now A Target
LOUISVILLE, Ky., 10:21 p.m. EST December 13, 2001
The son of the leader of the Kentucky state militia said Thursday that he thinks he's being unfairly targeted by state law enforcement.
Charlie Puckett and his lawyer called a press conference Thursday to demand that the state's attorney general, police commissioner and head of the justice cabinet all investigate the source of what they call an unfair advisory that characterizes Puckett as a serious threat to law enforcement officers.
"I feel battered and beaten," Puckett said. "It's just not right that they've done this to me."
Puckett said that the advisory warns officers throughout central Kentucky. It also advises that investigators have received information that Puckett has made threatening statements toward the law enforcement community. The advisory adds that Puckett may react in a violent, retaliatory manner if approached or confronted. Officers are cautioned to use extreme caution when approaching him, and should consider him to be armed and dangerous.
"If that isn't a free pass on a shoot to kill, if this isn't a free pass on confront this young man on any possibility and be ready to shoot him if he has the temerity to question why he's being stopped, then i don't know what is," Puckett's lawyer, Charlie Puckett, said.
But a state police spokeswoman, Lt. Linda Rudzinski, said that the advisory distribution is a standard procedure.
"The advisory was the result of credible information," Rudzinski told NewsChannel 32's Andy Alcock. "We sent it out to law enforcement agencies confidentially, as part of a routine business with state police."
The Lancaster, Ky., home of Charlie Puckett's father, whose name also is Charlie Puckett, was raided last month by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigators. They found and confiscated eight weapons and nearly 40,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as a concealed-weapons license. The elder Puckett also has a criminal record, including a felony conviction that made it illegal for him to possess firearms and explosives.
But Thursday, the younger Puckett sounded as if neither he nor his father could be a threat.
"I've helped my father with law enforcement, and I would do it again," he said.
The KSP advisory also stated that the younger Puckett may harbor resentment toward the ATF because of the raid, but Puckett disagreed.
"I don't think this is justified, and I think they illegally done it," the younger Puckett said. "But I don't harbor no resentment towards them whatsoever."
KSP investigators are trying to determine who released the confidential advisory. Puckett and Galbraith said that they might file a lawsuit about it.
Wasichu
Yeah, in our militia cell we always elect/appoint the perv who has the most 'exhibition charges' ...
Charlie Puckett and his lawyer called a press conference Thursday to demand that the state's attorney general, police commissioner and head of the justice cabinet all investigate the source of what they call an unfair advisory that characterizes Puckett as a serious threat to law enforcement officers.Article #1
Agents began investigating Puckett after he made inflammatory statements on two separate radio programs. In one statement, Puckett said that if any ATF agents were to come to his home, "The Garrard County coroner would have a mess on his hands."Right ...
It's for the children.
I know this, but who inducted him way back when he was new to the militia?
So far I've got 'press clippings' that seem to indicate different things ... I don't know exactly what/who to believe.
This is the point where witnesses need to be subpoened ...
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