Prosecutors on Wednesday sought a new arrest warrant and higher bond for Kyle Rittenhouse – the Illinois teen charged with shooting three people during a protest over police brutality in Wisconsin – after he allegedly violated his bail conditions.
The Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office alleged that Rittenhouse violated his bond after failing to notify the court of his new address within 48 hours of moving as per the terms of his bond.
In a court filing Wednesday, prosecutors said several attempts to contact him have failed, and a notice for a hearing was returned to the sender without a forwarding address.
Kenosha police detectives on Tuesday visited the address Rittenhouse filed with the court in November, but they were greeted at the door by a person who has no relation to him.
The man said he has been living at the residence since December 14, which coincides with the bounced back court notices mailed to the address.
Rittenhouse’s attorney, Mark Richards, countered the motion, informing the court that death threats had driven his client to move in an “undisclosed Safe House”, which was arranged by his previous defense attorney, John Pierce.
“While completing paperwork related to Kyle’s release, Attorney Pierce was directly informed by a high-ranking member of the Kenosha Police Department not to provide the address of the Rittenhouse Safe House because of the numerous threats made against Kyle and his family,” the response states.
He added that he offered to give the prosecutors the new address in November, should they agree to keep the location from public knowledge – to which they declined.
Richards also assured that this client has stayed in constant communication with him.
Prosecutors argued that Rittenhouse has maintained a careless attitude and has little incentive to comply with his bond conditions.
“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,” the prosecutors said.
“Rarely does our community see accused murderers roaming about freely.”