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Tuesday, September 30, 1997
Judge grants separatist's request to postpone
arraignment
FORT DAVIS, Texas (AP) - A Republic of Texas member scheduled
for arraignment Monday on an organized crime charge was granted
a postponement so he could have time to hire an attorney.
Richard Frank Keyes III, who slipped away when other group
members surrendered to Texas Rangers following an armed standoff,
was making his initial court appearance since being captured Sept.
19 north of Houston.
State District Judge Kenneth DeHart said he has not set another
arraignment date yet.
Keyes is accused of storming a house in the remote Davis Mountains
Resort and taking two people hostage, sparking the weeklong confrontation
between an armed Republic faction and 300 state troopers.
The siege ended May 3 when faction leader Richard McLaren and
four others involved walked into custody.
But Keyes and McLaren bodyguard Mike Matson fled into the wilderness
surrounding the group's so-called embassy, a cabin hidden away
in the Davis Mountains 200 miles southeast of El Paso.
Matson was later killed in a gun battle with police.
Authorities searched for Keyes, but eventually abandoned their
efforts May 7, speculating he was probably dead.
McLaren and three other followers, who believe that Texas is
an independent republic, are scheduled to go to trial Oct. 27
on felony charges of engaging in organized criminal activity stemming
from the hostage situation.
DeHart said he will likely decide this week whether to move
their trial out of Fort Davis.Send a Letter to
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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