Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9412010109
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"The only time I would ever harm anyone is if someone is trying to harm me or my family," said James Roy Mullins. "I think any man would do that."
Mullins, 41, has been held in the Roanoke City Jail since he was arrested in July on charges of violating federal firearms laws. He'll likely remain there until his trial, which is scheduled to begin Feb.27.
U.S. Magistrate Glen Conrad, who first denied Mullins bond in August, refused again on Wednesday to set conditions for his release.
The magistrate said he was prepared to set bond until he learned that Mullins had written a letter threatening government witnesses.
"It was extremely bad judgment to send that letter," the judge said. "I'm afraid if we release you now, that you would run a risk of exhibiting bad judgment down the road."
Federal agents say Mullins founded the Blue Ridge Hunt Club - a group they allege was preparing to use force to circumvent firearms laws. A computer disk confiscated from Mullins' home contains what the agents think were guidelines for the group.
"Hit-and-run tactics will be our method of fighting," a file on the disk said. "We will destroy targets such as telephone-relay centers, bridges and storage tanks.''
But Mullins' attorney, Jack Gregory, argued Wednesday that the disk's contents and other threatening statements made by his client shouldn't be taken literally.
He said Mullins might have "puffed out his chest and run his mouth," but that he had no intention of hurting anyone.
A federal grand jury indicted Mullins and three other members of the club in August on charges of conspiring to violate federal firearms laws. The various charges include the possession and sale of unregistered silencers and falsifying gun records. None of the men was charged with any violent crimes.
Gregory asked Conrad to set bond for Mullins and place him under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
The judge refused, citing a letter Mullins wrote to Dennis Lambert, a friend of his in Lexington, N.C.
In the letter dated Aug. 3, Mullins told Lambert that he might need to borrow a "Christmas gift" - which federal prosecutors say is an illegal machine gun - to take care of some "unfinished business."
Lambert testified that he had interpreted the letter to mean that Mullins wanted to get his hands on a machine gun so he could "eliminate" a government witness against him.
Mullins claimed the letter was misinterpreted and that he was asking Lambert to return a press used to reload ammunition.
The North Carolina man, who has agreed to testify against his former friend, told the magistrate that he fears that Mullins, if released on bond, may hurt him or his parents.
A psychiatrist examined Mullins and found that he was not a threat to society, and Conrad said he was inclined to set bond until finding out about the letter.
"This is a case where actions speak louder than words," the magistrate said.
by CNB