Judge Bruce E. Schroeder of the Kenosha County District Court denied the motions during a virtual hearing on bail conditions.
Schroeder said Rittenhouse is not updating his address, but that it is not a reason to increase bail. He ordered the defense team to give the court the new address. If prosecutors want to gather information on where Rittenhouse is, they will have to go through the sheriff’s office, he said.
“Removing us from this information is not appropriate,” said Thomas Binger, Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney, just before the judge abruptly ended the trial. “In no case have I ever heard of, we have never been denied this information.”
Rittenhouse’s attorney, Mark Richards, argued his client ‘is not going, he has not been hiding.’ He added that his client appeared after each trial.
Schroeder said he does not have the power to issue an arrest warrant because Rittenhouse did not violate Wisconsin law.
“I understand the concern,” Schroeder said. “To now issue a warrant for an accused who appeared at every trial would be against the law and I will not do that.”
The teenager, who pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and attempted murder, has been released on $ 2 million bail.
Lawyers for Rittenhouse said threats forced the teen to find another destination rather than his address.
Attorney John Pierce, who was part of Rittenhouse’s defense team until mid-January, had earlier signed an affidavit, saying that due to the numerous death threats, arrangements had been made for the Rittenhouse family to stay in a ‘Safe House’ on an unidentified place would live. “once bail has been posted.
John Huber, the father of Anthony Huber, who was allegedly shot and killed by Rittenhouse during the Kenosha protests, demanded that bail be increased to $ 4 million and addressed the accused with malice.
“From the moment he became a killer, he thought he was above the law,” Huber said Thursday via Zoom. “Justice will be served for you.”
Rittenhouse is charged in the deaths of Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum and Gaige Grosskreutz on August 25. Rittenhouse’s lawyers insisted he was acting in self-defense.
Rittenhouse, who sat next to Richards and wore a mask, “looks forward to hearing these crimes,” his attorney said. “We have nothing to fear. The truth will set my client free.”