LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on fire arms charges filed against a member of an armed civilian that detains migrants on the US-Mexico border (all times local):
1 p.m.
A member of an armed civilian group that has detained migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border in southern New Mexico made an initial court appearance in following his weekend arrest on firearms charges.
FBI agents arrested Larry Hopkins, 69, at his home in northern New Mexico on Saturday on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms in November of 2017.
Wearing orange handcuffs and a green jumpsuit, Hopkins told the federal judge that he has medical problems, but didn’t detail them.
The FBI says that Hopkins had nine firearms and ammunition in his home, and has three prior felony convictions. The Bureau declined to say why it waited over a year to file the charges.
Hopkins’ lawyer said that he plans to enter a plea of “not guilty” at a bond hearing in Albuquerque next week.
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11:00 a.m.
A member of an armed civilian group that has detained migrants near the U.S.-Mexico border is set to make his first court appearance following his weekend arrest on firearms charges.
Larry Hopkins was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms. He reportedly faced similar charges 13 years ago in Oregon.
The 69-year-old is scheduled for an appearance Monday in U.S. District Court in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It wasn’t immediately known if he had an attorney who could comment on the allegations.
Armed civilian groups have been a fixture on the border for years, especially when large numbers of migrants come through. The latest influx includes many families and children.
An FBI spokesman said additional information about Hopkins would be released after his court appearance.
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