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Prosecutors ask for higher bond for Kenosha protest shooter Kyle Rittenhouse

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Prosecutors are now asking again for a higher bond for Kenosha protest shooter Kyle Rittenhouse.

On Thursday, Wisconsin prosecutors pressed their call for a higher bond for the 18 year old Kyle Rittenhouse, who “apparently believes that the rules don’t apply to him.” The teen awaits his trial for the shooting of three people at a peaceful BLM protest turned violent, killing 2 of them. On Thursday, Kenosha county prosecutors had pressed for an additional $200,000 to be added onto the $2 million bond his lawyers had posted last November. Conservatives had raised the $2 million and Rittenhouse walked out of jail in November on bail.

Rittenhouse is charged with multiple counts, including homicide from his actions at the protest last August. The demonstrations began after police shot Jacob Blake in the back, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Prosecutors alleged that Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, responded to a militia call on social media urging to protect Kenosha businesses from protesters. He had opened fire on Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber, and Gaige Grosskreutz. Rosenbaum and Huber were killed, and Gaige was wounded but survived.

Rittenhouse had fled the scene, and turned himself into the police the next day. He maintained that he had acted in self-defense after the three men attacked him at the protest. Conservatives have stood by him as a symbol for gun rights and pushing back against anti-police protesters, although others insist that he had escalated tensions by walking around the protest with a gun.

Prosecutors had stated in their motion on Wednesday that they had learned Rittenhouse was no longer living at his Antioch address after the court mailed him a notice and it was returned as undeliverable on Jan. 28. Kenosha detectives had found and traveled to the address on Tuesday and discovered another man had rented the apartment and has been living there since mid-December.

Prosecutors state that it is unusual for a homicide defendant to be allowed to roam freely while on bond, stating that the court needs to know where Rittenhouse is at all times. The did not state where Rittenhouse currently resides, but stated that he failed to provide the court a new address. “He posted no money so he has no financial stake in the bond,” they wrote. “He is already facing the most serious possible criminal charges and life in prison, so in comparison, potential future criminal penalties are insignificant.” Rittenhouse’ attorney, Mark Richards, filed a motion objecting the prosecution’s request.

ARTICLE: MICHAEL GODZIC

POLITICS EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

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