6 Indicted in Alabama Militia Raids

By JAY REEVES
Associated Press Writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Five men accused of belonging to a self-styled militia were indicted on federal explosives and weapons charges after raids that uncovered an arsenal of homemade hand grenades and firearms, authorities said.

The men remained in jail Thursday without bail after a federal agent testified this week that they were planning a machine gun attack on Mexicans.

The indictments Wednesday charged the five with conspiring to make hand grenades and possessing various weapons or explosives.

During the raids April 26 in a home and a camper, agents seized 130 hand grenades, a grenade launcher, about 70 hand grenades rigged to be fired from a rifle, a machine gun, a short-barrel shotgun and more than 2,500 rounds of ammunition, authorities said.

Defense attorneys indicated they would fight the charges against Raymond Kirk Dillard, 46; Adam Lynn Cunningham, 41; and James Ray McElroy, 20, all of Collinsville; Bonnell Hughes, 57, of Crossville; and Randall Garrett Cole, 22, of Gadsden.

A sixth man accused of meeting with members of the Alabama Free Militia was indicted on charges of being a marijuana user in possession of 10 or more firearms and marijuana possession.

Agents discovered weapons at Michael Wayne Bobo's parents Trussville house, where he lived, authorities said. A judge allowed Bobo to be released on a $10,000 property bond posted by his parents.

An ATF agent has testified that militia members stockpiled scores of hand grenades and weapons and planned a machine-gun attack on Mexicans. Neighbors have described some of the men as railing against illegal immigrants and the federal government.

AP