Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 25, 1994                   TAG: 9408250090
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HUNT CLUB MEMBER CALLED THREAT TO PUBLIC, DENIED BOND

U.S. Magistrate Glen E. Conrad denied bond for James Roy Mullins this week, citing the letter as proof that Mullins is a threat to the community.

Mullins, 40, was arrested last month on federal firearm charges. Federal agents say Mullins founded the Blue Ridge Hunt Club - a group they allege was planning to use paramilitary tactics to circumvent firearm laws. Members of the club say it was formed to legally lobby against gun-control laws.

Mullins pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of possessing and selling unregistered silencers and a short-barreled rifle and helping in the unlawful purchase of a firearm.

Much of the arraignment focused on whether or not bond would be set for Mullins. Earlier this month, Conrad ordered that the Pulaski man be held without bond until a psychiatric examination was completed.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Wolthuis said the examination had been completed but is being kept under seal.

Not under seal is a letter Mullins wrote from the Roanoke City Jail several weeks ago to a friend in Lexington, N.C.

Throughout the letter, Mullins talks about how he thinks one of his friends in Pulaski is working as an informant for federal agents.

"It takes a real lowlife to do that," he wrote in a letter dated August 3.

Mullins also wrote he may need to borrow a "Christmas gift" - Wolthuis says that is an illegal machine gun - to take care of some "unfinished business."

Wolthuis said the letter clearly indicated that Mullins would rearm himself and attempt to hurt or intimidate government witnesses if released on bond.

The magistrate agreed.

A federal grand jury indicted three other members of the club last week. Paul David Peterson, a Blacksburg firearm dealer; William Darrell Stump II, a gun-rights advocate from Pulaski; and Dennis Frith were charged with conspiring to violate federal firearm laws.

Peterson, who was arrested the same day as Mullins, and Frith pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the charges against them.

Federal agents say Mullins planned to raid the National Guard Armory in Pulaski in order to arm Blue Ridge Hunt Club members.

"We will destroy targets such as telephone relay centers, bridges, fuel storage tanks ... to eliminate particular individuals who oppose us," he allegedly wrote on a computer disk obtained by federal agents.