Alaska News

Alaska militiaman sentenced to 5 years on weapons charges

Coleman Barney, a command major in the Alaska Peacemakers Militia which broke up after the Feds came in, was sentenced to five years in federal prison on Monday for weapons violation charges.

Barney was among a handful of members involved in the investigation into an anti-government, Fairbanks-based militia with sovereign-citizen leanings. Two of the members, Schaeffer Cox and Lonnie Vernon, were found guilty of the most serious charges against them, conspiracy to murder federal officials, and could now face life in prison. Lonnie and Karen Vernon pleaded guilty in August of planning to kill a federal judge and an IRS worker, crimes they are accused of.

Lonnie is facing 21 to 27 years and Karen up to 15 years.

Cox is set to be sentenced on Nov. 19.

Barney was guilty on just two counts, conspiracy to possess silencers and destructive devices and possession of an unregistered destructive device, a 37mm launcher with "hornet's nest" anti-personnel rounds.

Barney's attorney, Tim Dooley, said after the verdict that they intended to appeal that conviction.

Barney was found not guilty of four other weapons charges.

Read more about the militia here.

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