Ala. militia suspect pleads guilty

One of five men described as members of a self-styled militia pleaded guilty to federal explosives and conspiracy charges Monday after admitting he made hand grenades and other weapons for the ragtag bunch.

Bonnell Hughes, 57, of Crossville appeared before a judge a day before his four co-defendants were scheduled to also plead guilty to federal charges in the case.

Agents who conducted a series of raids in April found a cache of munitions at Hughes' home, including 80 hand grenades, 68 explosive projectiles and a machine gun. He denied having any plans to use the weapons.

Hughes pleaded guilty to conspiring to make grenades and a silencer, making grenades and possessing grenades and other illegal weapons. Hughes could receive a maximum penalty of 70 years in prison and $2 million in fines, but prosecutors said they expected him to receive a term closer to 10 years.

No sentencing date was set. Hughes' attorney did not immediately return a phone call.

Court documents filed by prosecutors said Hughes held the rank of captain in a heavily armed group that authorities identified as the Free Militia.

An informant who infiltrated the militia learned that they planned to conduct a "raid" on another group that they believed to be composed of illegal Mexican immigrants who were firing automatic weapons on weekends near Birmingham, according to the plea agreement signed by Hughes.

"The purpose of this planned 'raid' was to seize the illegal immigrants' automatic weapons for use by the militia," the document said.

A federal agent testified previously that the militia planned an attack on Mexicans in Remlap, a small town just north of Birmingham, and actually went there on a reconnaissance mission before their arrests in April.

Documents show four other men are scheduled to plead guilty in the case on Tuesday: Raymond Kirk Dillard, 46, Adam Lynn Cunningham, 41, and James Ray McElroy, 20, all of Collinsville; and Randall Garrett Cole, 22, of Gadsden.