LUDOWICI, Ga. (AP) — Four Army soldiers based in southeast Georgia killed a former comrade and his girlfriend to protect an anarchist militia group they formed that stockpiled assault weapons and plotted a range of anti-government attacks, prosecutors told a judge Monday.

Prosecutors in rural Long County, near the sprawling Army post Fort Stewart, said the militia group composed of active duty and former U.S. military members spent at least $87,000 buying guns and bomb components and was serious enough to kill two people — former soldier Michael Roark and his 17-year-old girlfriend, Tiffany York — by shooting them in the woods last December in order to keep its plans secret.

"This domestic terrorist organization did not simply plan and talk," prosecutor Isabel Pauley told a Superior Court judge. "Prior to the murders in this case, the group took action. Evidence shows the group possessed the knowledge, means and motive to carry out their plans."

One of the Fort Stewart soldiers charged in the case, Army Pfc. Michael Burnett, also gave testimony that backed up many of the assertions made by prosecutors. The 26-year-old soldier pleaded guilty Monday to manslaughter, illegal gang activity and other charges. He made a deal to cooperate with prosecutors in their case against the three other soldiers.

Prosecutors said the group called itself F.E.A.R., short for Forever Enduring Always Ready. Pauley said authorities don't know how many members the militia had.

Burnett, 26, said he knew the group's leaders from serving with them at Fort Stewart. He agreed to testify against fellow soldiers Pvt. Isaac Aguigui, identified by prosecutors as the militia's founder and leader, Sgt. Anthony Peden and Pvt. Christopher Salmon.

All are charged by state authorities with malice murder, felony murder, criminal gang activity, aggravated assault and using a firearm while committing a felony. A hearing for the three soldiers was scheduled Thursday.

Prosecutors say Roark, 19, served with the four defendants in the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division and became involved with the militia. Pauley said the group believed it had been betrayed by Roark, who left the Army two days before he was killed, and decided the ex-soldier and his girlfriend needed to be silenced.

Burnett testified that on the night of Dec. 4, he and the three other soldiers lured Roark and York to some woods a short distance from the Army post under the guise that they were going target shooting. He said Peden shot Roark's girlfriend in the head while she was trying to get out of her car. Salmon, he said, made Roark get on his knees and shot him twice in the head. Burnett said Aguigui ordered the killings.

"A loose end is the way Isaac put it," Burnett said.

Aguigui's attorney, Daveniya Fisher, did not immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press. Attorneys for Peden and Salmon both declined to comment Monday.

Also charged in the killings is Salmon's wife, Heather Salmon. Her attorney, Charles Nester, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Pauley said Aguigui funded the militia using $500,000 in insurance and benefit payments from the death of his pregnant wife a year ago. Aguigui was not charged in his wife's death, but Pauley told the judge her death was "highly suspicious."

She said Aguigui used the money to buy $87,000 worth of semiautomatic assault rifles, other guns and bomb components that were recovered from the accused soldiers' homes and from a storage locker. He also used the insurance payments to buy land for his militia group in Washington state, Pauley said.

In a videotaped interview with military investigators, Pauley said, Aguigui called himself "the nicest cold-blooded murderer you will ever meet." He used the Army to recruit militia members, who wore distinctive tattoos that resemble an anarchy symbol, she said. Prosecutors say they have no idea how many members belong to the group.

"All members of the group were on active-duty or were former members of the military," Pauley said. "He targeted soldiers who were in trouble or disillusioned."

The prosecutor said the militia group had big plans. It plotted to take over Fort Stewart by seizing its ammunition control point and talked of bombing the Forsyth Park fountain in nearby Savannah, she said. In Washington state, she added, the group plotted to bomb a dam and poison the state's apple crop. Ultimately, prosecutors said, the militia's goal was to overthrow the government and assassinate the president.

The Army brought charges against the four accused soldiers in connection with the slayings of Roark and York in March, but has yet to act on them. Fort Stewart spokesman Kevin Larson said he could not comment immediately on the militia accusations that emerged in civilian court Monday.

District Attorney Tom Durden said his office has been sharing information with federal authorities, but no charges have been filed in federal court. Jim Durham, an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, would not comment on whether a case is pending.

All are charged by state authorities with malice murder, felony murder, criminal gang activity, aggravated assault and using a firearm while committing a felony.

 Frazzled wrote:
I think the felony murder covers it for now. I'd bet more charges will be added. "Criminal gang" activity is not a crime - the actuall charges would likely be something else, likely using organized crime statutes.

Criminal gang activity is a crime in military courts, isn't it?

 ShumaGorath wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:
I think the felony murder covers it for now. I'd bet more charges will be added. "Criminal gang" activity is not a crime - the actuall charges would likely be something else, likely using organized crime statutes.

Criminal gang activity is a crime in military courts, isn't it?

the nicest cold-blooded murderer you will ever meet

 Frazzled wrote:

 ShumaGorath wrote:

 Frazzled wrote:
I think the felony murder covers it for now. I'd bet more charges will be added. "Criminal gang" activity is not a crime - the actuall charges would likely be something else, likely using organized crime statutes.

Criminal gang activity is a crime in military courts, isn't it?

The article said state charges, so I am assuming those are nonfederal charges. The article also said the Army had charged them with murder if I read it right. There may be some sort of state "criminal gang activity" being nomenclature for something akin to a local version of RICO or something.

Yea looks like they will get to know - in detail- the joy of busting rocks.

Wait, if they are cashiered out and this is a full on state thing then they may get the needle. it is Georgia.

Article wrote:Prosecutors said the group called itself F.E.A.R., short for Forever Enduring Always Ready.

 Jihadin wrote:

Criminal gang activity is a crime in military courts, isn't it?

Yes it is but UCMJ charges will not be added. They will be process out in absentia via their NCO's so the state of GA will have complete control.

I'm surprised that there are so many of these crazies coming out at one time, but not really surprised at who these crazies are. How can you really be surprised anymore?

 Jihadin wrote:
HHmmmm good point Auston.....I'm crazy because I fall out of a perfectly good airplane a few times....all night jumps...regardless of time...800 ft static line drops.

 Jihadin wrote:

I'm surprised that there are so many of these crazies coming out at one time, but not really surprised at who these crazies are. How can you really be surprised anymore?

great...I might be crazy...

 Jihadin wrote:
US Military going to go with the system to get the max punishment. GA has them.

Though If they looked back on their activities when they were in the armed forces then it probably wouldn't be such a surprise to see them ending up where they are; just like with the shooter at the shik temple.

 AustonT wrote:
There hasn't been a death penalty execution from the UCMJ since 1961.

Lord-Loss wrote:

Article wrote:Prosecutors said the group called itself F.E.A.R., short for Forever Enduring Always Ready.

Sounds like the name of a crappy metal band.

America's pretty lucky they didn't assassinate the president, can you imagine 'Forever Enduring Always Ready' going down into the history books? That's be awful...

 Jihadin wrote:
HHmmmm good point Auston.....I'm crazy because I fall out of a perfectly good airplane a few times....all night jumps...regardless of time...800 ft static line drops.

 Jihadin wrote:
Nope. No one been executed under UCMJ lately. There's a Stay on Gray execution so he's still in limbo.

 Jihadin wrote:
The Shooter at the Sikh Temple never deployed.