Wisconsin prosecutors have asked a Kenosha County judge for an arrest warrant for Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois teen charged with killing two protesters and wounding another last August, after they learned he had moved and left no forwarding address, the Kenosha News reports.
Kenosha County Assistant District Attorneys Thomas C. Binger and Jason R. Zapf also asked Circuit Court Judge Bruce E. Schroeder to increase Rittenhouse’s $2 million bail by another $200,000.
Rittenhouse surrendered to police the day after the killing of Joesph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, during the August 25 protest concerning the officer-related shooting of Jacob Blake, as CrimeOnline previously reported. He was released on a $2 million bail, paid when conservative groups crowdfunded the amount, on November 20.
The Kenosha News said that Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the fatal shooting and has since turned 18, listed an apartment in Antioch, Illinois, as his address and that his bond required him to “give written notice to the Clerk of this Court within 48 hours of any change of address or telephone number.”
But a notice mailed to the defendant on December 22 was returned unclaimed on January 28, with a notice from the post office that service was “attempted not known” and they were not able to forward the mail, court documents say. Kenosha Police Detectives went to the Antioch apartment on Tuesday, but a man there told them he had lived there since December 14 and had a lease for the apartment.
Rittenhouse was spotted at Pudgy’s Pub in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, earlier this month, when he was photographed flashing white power signs with bar patrons, who sang a “Proud Boys” anthem to him, as CrimeOnline reported. He was wearing a t-shirt that read “FREE AS F**K.”
Rittenhouse’s attorney, Mark Richards, responded to the motion, objecting to the bond increase, according to WISN. He said Rittenhouse and his family have moved to a “safe house” to avoid death threats. He said he would provide the address if it’s kept confidential by the court.
Rittenhouse’s trial is due to begin late next month, with a hearing set for March 10. A hearing on this matter could come before that. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him and claimed self-defense.
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