Wisconsin prosecutors said they were unable to locate Kyle Rittenhouse—the Illinois 18-year-old who is currently out on bond after he was arrested for fatally shooting two people and gravely injuring a third at a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Now they are seeking to arrest him again and increase his bond by $200,000 for the violation.
WISN 12 Newsreported prosecutors could not serve notice to Rittenhouse because they were given a false address.
Kenosha police detectives went to the listed address but were greeted by a different resident who had been living there since December 14. Earlier court notices sent to the address in mid-December have also been returned and the person living there was of no relation to Rittenhouse.
A prosecutor filing stated:
"The address listed on the defendant's November 20, 2020 bond, 286 Anita Terrace, #10, Antioch, IL, is a false and the defendant no longer resides there."
"On December 22, 2020, the Clerk of Circuit Court mailed a notice to the defendant at that address, and the notice was returned unclaimed on January 28, 2021."
"The US Postal Service indicated on the notice that service was 'Attempted Not Known' and they were 'Unable to Forward.'"
Under the terms of Rittenhouse's release, he was required to notify the court of any address change within 48 hours of moving.
Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binge wrote in a Kenosha County Circuit Court filing:
"In a criminal case as serious as this one, it is critically important that the Court be able to monitor the defendant's whereabouts at all times."
"After all, it is extremely unusual for a defendant facing a charge of First Degree Intentional Homicide in Kenosha County to post cash bond and be released from custody pending trial. Rarely does our community see accused murderers roaming about freely."
A member of Rittenhouse's defense team contacted prosecutors and said they would provide the teen's new whereabouts if it was filed under seal. But prosecutors rejected the agreement because there was no evidence provided of imminent threats.
The Illinois teen—who was then 17—was accused of killing first a mentally ill homeless man, Joseph Rosenbaum, then killing protester Anthony Huber when he tried to stop Rittenhouse from shooting more people and also seriously injuring Gaige Grosskreutz on August 25 at a BLM protest in Kenosha.
He claimed the shooting of all three unarmed men was in self-defense.
This was not the first time prosecutors encountered issues with Rittenhouse after he was released from Kenosha County Jail on a $2 million bond.
On January 5, he was spotted fraternizing at a bar with people reported to be members of the White supremacist group, Proud Boys, and posing for pictures while flashing the "W" sign—an identifying gesture co-opted by the extremist group.
In Wisconsin, the drinking age is 21 but it is legal for 18 - 20-year-olds to consume alcohol if they are accompanied by an adult. Rittenhouse was with his mother at the time.
People saw this as an example of White privilege.
Kenosha County prosecutors asked the court to modify the bond agreement with adjustments including that "The defendant shall not be present in any establishment where alcohol is served" and "The defendant shall be prohibited from making any public display of any 'white power' or 'white supremacy' signs, symbols, or hand gestures."
His trial is scheduled for March 29.
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