Georgia man convicted in plot to seize Monroe courthouse

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

photo Darren Wesley Huff takes a break before he is taken into custody on his conviction on firearms charges Tuesday in Knoxville.

KNOXVILLE - A jury convicted a Georgia man Tuesday of a federal firearms charge in what authorities said was a plot to take over a Tennessee courthouse and force President Barack Obama out of office.

Darren Wesley Huff, 41, was found guilty of carrying a firearm in interstate commerce with the intent to use it in a civil disorder. He was acquitted of using a firearm in relation to another felony. He faces up to five years in prison.

"The verdict on count one reflects exactly what the law is supposed to do, which is prevent harm before shots get fired, people hurt, or property damaged," Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Mackie told reporters after the verdict.

Scott Green, Huff's attorney, did not comment after the verdict. On Monday, he quoted former New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay: "Those who suppress freedom always do so in the name of law and order."

Huff was stopped by Tennessee officers in April 2010 and told them he was bringing guns into the state from Dallas, Ga., to support efforts to arrest Monroe County officials who refused to indict Obama.

Huff was a part of a Georgia militia and the birther movement that disputes Obama's U.S. citizenship.

Officers testified Huff was carrying a loaded Colt .45 in a holster on his hip plus an assault rifle and 200 or 300 rounds of ammunition in his truck.

A sentencing hearing was scheduled in February.