(Source: MIRS.news, Published 06/07/23) A Belleville man accused of conducting surveillance near the Governor’s vacation home entered a guilty plea Wednesday.
Shawn Fix, one of 14 charged in the 2020 plot to kidnap and kill Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, acknowledged helping the plot by locating Whitmer’s vacation home, saying he provided material support for an act of terrorism.
Judge Charles Hamlyn of the 13th Circuit Court asked Fix how he plead, and he replied, “Guilty.”
The prosecution dismissed a charge of possessing a firearm while committing a felony, according to court records.
Fix faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced, which is not expected until after his co-defendants’ August trial. His plea agreement calls for him to testify against the co-defendants.
State and federal prosecutors allege the group planned to kidnap and kill Whitmer in an effort to start a second civil war, but FBI agents were able to thwart the plot after a group member alerted a police friend and became an informant.
Fix was the second of the Antrim County defendants to enter a plea.
In March, Wisconsin resident Brian Higgins pleaded guilty to an added count of attempting to provide material support for a terrorist act and his sentencing is expected after the co-defendants’ trials.
Eric Molitor, 39, of Cadillac, and twins William Null and Michael Null, 41, of Shelbyville and Plainwell, respectively, are currently scheduled for trial in August.
In Jackson County, a jury convicted Pete Musico, Paul Bellar, and Joseph Morrison for their roles. Musico, of Munith, was sentenced to a minimum of 12 years in prison while Morrison, of Munith, and Bellar, of Milford, received 10-year and 7-year prison terms, respectively.
In federal court, a jury convicted plot leader Adam Fox, of Wyoming, and Barry Croft Jr., of Bear, Delaware, in a second trial. The first ended with a hung jury for Croft and Fox, and acquittals for co-defendants Brandon Caserta, of Canton, and Daniel Harris, of Lake Orion.
Kaleb Franks, of Waterford, and Ty Garbin, of Hartland Township, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to kidnap the Governor and were sentenced to prison.
