Kenosha County Circuit Court judge Bruce E. Schroeder denied the motions during a virtual bail hearing.
Schroeder said that Rittenhouse violated the fact that it did not update its address, but it was no reason to raise bail. He ordered the defense team to give the court the new address. If prosecutors want to obtain information about Rittenhouse’s whereabouts, they will have to go through the sheriff’s office, he said.
“Cutting us out of this information is not appropriate,” argued Thomas Binger, assistant public prosecutor in Kenosha County, shortly before the judge abruptly closed the hearing. “We have never been denied this information in any case I have heard of.”
Rittenhouse’s lawyer, Mark Richards, argued that his client “is not running, he has not been hiding”. He added that his client attended all required audiences.
Schroeder said he had no authority to issue an arrest warrant because Rittenhouse did not violate Wisconsin law while on bail.
“I understand the concern,” said Schroeder. “Issuing a warrant now to a defendant who attended all hearings would be breaking the law and I will not do that.”
The teenager, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and attempted murder, is released on $ 2 million bail.
Rittenhouse’s lawyers said the threats forced the teenager to find another place to live instead of his listed address.
Attorney John Pierce, who was part of the Rittenhouse defense team until mid-January, previously signed a statement stating that, due to the numerous death threats, “arrangements have been made for the Rittenhouse family to reside in a ‘Safe House’ in a unidentified location “once the bail has been paid.
John Huber, father of Anthony Huber, who was allegedly shot and killed by Rittenhouse during the Kenosha protests, asked for the bail to rise to $ 4 million and addressed the defendant angrily.
“From the moment he became a murderer, he thought he was above the law,” said Huber via Zoom on Thursday. “Justice will be done for you.”
Rittenhouse is accused of the shooting deaths of Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum, and of the wound of Gaige Grosskreutz on 25 August. Rittenhouse’s lawyers maintained that he acted in self-defense.
Rittenhouse, who sat next to Richards and wore a mask, “hopes to litigate these crimes,” said his lawyer. “We have nothing to fear. The truth will free my client.”