KENOSHA — A Kenosha County judge set Kyle Rittenhouse’s bond for $2 million Monday in court, calling the 17-year-old a flight risk.
It was Rittenhouse’s initial appearance in a Wisconsin court. His attorney had fought his extradition from Lake County, Illinois to Kenosha following his arrest. The charges Rittenhouse faces include first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree attempted homicide.
Aside from answering, “Yes, sir” to the judge's questions, Kyle Rittenhouse sat silently in court. The 17-year-old is accused of killing two people and seriously wounding a third in Kenosha during the protests in August.
“My client is 17 years old, he has no prior juvenile record, no record what so ever,” said Mark Richards, Rittenhouse’s defense attorney.
Before setting bond, the judge allowed the father of Anthony Huber, the second man prosecutors say Rittenhouse shot and killed, to speak.
“He is a flight risk. He is facing a long time in prison and he has people out there will help him. Organizations of militia members who are raising money for his defense right now,” said John Huber, father of Anthony Huber.
Rittenhouse’s attorney countered by saying Rittenhouse is defending himself at the time of the shootings
“The self-defense claim is this case is overwhelming. It’s on videotape,” said Richards. “We are not talking demonstrators. We are talking about rioters who had ill intent in their heart and unfortunately they came in second.”
“He already killed a guy, shot him in the head and tried to run. My son was a hero. He tried to stop him and so did everyone else. He was an active shooter and he tried to flee and my son lost his life,” said Huber.
Rittenhouse remains in jail in Kenosha for now. He’s due back in court next month.
