Deliberations Begin in ‘Freemen’ Trial

A jury in Billings began deliberations in the case against 12 leaders of the anti-government “freemen,” who face charges stemming from their 1996 standoff with FBI agents. The defendants, who captured wide media attention by holding federal agents at bay for 81 days outside their Montana compound, were charged with a string of crimes--each defendant faces 41 criminal counts. Prosecutors said the freemen’s placing of liens against property and printing of “comptroller warrants” to pay for thousands of dollars worth of computers, radio gear and other goods showed the group was motivated more by greed than political principles.