KENOSHA, Wis. — A Wisconsin judge denied two motions from prosecutors to issue a new arrest warrant and raise the bail for Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen from Illinois who is accused of killing two people during a police brutality protest last summer.
Rittenhouse, now 18, appeared virtually before a judge Thursday, WISN reported.
He is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the death of Anthony Huber, 26, of Silver Lake, Wisconsin; attempted first-degree intentional homicide for the shooting of Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, of West Allis, Wisconsin; and first-degree reckless homicide for the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, of Kenosha, according to a criminal complaint.
Prosecutors asked Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder to issue the new arrest warrant and increase Rittenhouse’s bail by $200,000, WISN reported.
Schroeder denied both motions.
“Most people out on bond, we don’t know where they are,” Schroeder said.
Rittenhouse came to Kenosha from Antioch, Illinois, in August as hundreds of people were protesting the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, The Associated Press reported.
>> Prosecutors: Kyle Rittenhouse violated terms of release, seek arrest
Rittenhouse has claimed the shooting was in self-defense, WISN reported. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.
Rittenhouse was released on $2 million bail in November. Prosecutors said earlier this month that Rittenhouse violated his bond agreement by not informing the court when he moved from his listed home address, WTMJ reported. Rittenhouse’s attorneys argued that threats have forced Rittenhouse into hiding.
“It is of concern to the defense that any information regarding Kyle’s location being publicly available would result in immediate harm to the Rittenhouse family,” Mark Richards, one of Rittenhouse’s attorneys, wrote in a filing.
Schroeder did require Rittenhouse to register his current address with the court, but it will be kept under seal, WTMJ reported.
Attorney Kimberley Motley, who represents the shooting victims, asked Schroeder to place Rittenhouse on electronic monitoring, WISN reported.
That motion was also denied.
In January, Rittenhouse was seen drinking at a bar and posing with two men as they made white supremacist hand gestures, according to the AP. Five men also sang an anthem of the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group.
Rittenhouse’s next scheduled court appearance is March 10, WISN reported.