THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 23, 1995 TAG: 9512230396
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
A former FBI agent accused of stockpiling stolen government weaponry was released from jail Friday but will be monitored electronically by federal authorities.
Halbert Gary Harlow spent about a week in an Alexandria jail while a mental evaluation was conducted and conditions governing his release were worked out. No court date has been set, said his lawyer, Steven Merril.
Pretrial Services, a federal agency, will use an electronic device to monitor Harlow's whereabouts, Merril said.
``Our personal opinion is that it's not necessary, but we will see if we can live with it,'' Merril said. ``If not, we will go to court to see about getting it changed.''
FBI agents last week raided Harlow's house in rural Fauquier County and removed more than 100,000 rounds of ammunition, special night-vision goggles, SWAT team equipment, explosives and more that prosecutors charge Harlow stole from the FBI training academy at Quantico.
Harlow, who was a firearms instructor at Quantico, faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
Shortly after the raid, Harlow's house burned to the ground. Authorities found evidence of arson and questioned Harlow and his wife, Barbara, but no charges have been filed in the fire.
On Dec. 15, U.S. Magistrate W. Curtis Sewell ordered Harlow released after a mental health evaluation. He rejected arguments from Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Bellows, who said Harlow should remain behind bars until trial.
Bellows portrayed Harlow, 48, as a dangerous and unstable man who kept loaded assault weapons in his car and about 30 guns at home. by CNB