Kyle Rittenhouse under new bond restrictions after allegedly displayed racist signs in Wisconsin bar: prosecutors

ByCNN
Friday, January 15, 2021
Kyle Rittenhouse under new bond restrictions, prosecutors accuse Antioch teen of displaying racist signs in WI bar
Wisconsin prosecutors are trying to modify Antioch teen Kyle Rittenhouse's bond after they say he displayed racist signs in a bar.

KENOSHA, Wis. -- Kyle Rittenhouse, the 18-year old Antioch teen accused of killing two people in the protests that followed the shooting of Jacob Blake In Kenosha, is under new restrictions.

Kenosha County prosecutors requested changes to the conditions of Rittenhouse's bond after they said he was seen drinking beer in a bar with his mother.

Prosecutors submitted several photos to the judge, including pictures in which Rittenhouse is flashing the "okay" sign, which has been adopted by many white supremacist groups.

Under the new bond conditions, Rittenhouse cannot drink alcohol, go to bars or associate with white supremacist groups.

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Kyle Rittenhouse has posted $2 million bond and been released from the Kenosha County Jail, officials confirmed Friday.

Rittenhouse's attorney said his client has never been affiliated with any such groups.

Prosecutors asked the Kenosha County Circuit Court to modify the bond conditions of Kyle Rittenhouse, according to a motion filed by the Kenosha County District Attorney's Office on Wednesday.

The office is requesting that Rittenhouse be prohibited from possessing or consuming alcohol or being in any establishment that serves it; be prohibited from making any public display of any "white power" or "white supremacy" signs, symbols, or hand gestures; and not have any contact with any known militia members or members of any violent white power/white supremacist groups including the group identified as the "Proud Boys."

The 17-year-old is out on a $2 million bail after being arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Kenosha. Rittenhouse is alleged to have been in the midst of protests that had broken out in the Wisconsin city over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, and authorities allege he fired at protesters.

RELATED: 'Counting down my breaths': Jacob Blake reflects on shooting

Jacob Blake is speaking publicly for the first time since the DA's decision not to file any charges in an exclusive interview with Michael Strahan and Good Morning America.

Rittenhouse was arraigned Jan. 5 on two felony charges of homicide in the deaths of two men and a felony attempted homicide charge in the wounding of another man.

According to prosecutors, Rittenhouse was seen at a local bar with his mother about 90 minutes after the arraignment, and his presence and behavior were confirmed by surveillance video.

Rittenhouse was seen with other individuals flashing "the 'OK' sign, which has been co-opted as a sign of 'white power' by known white supremacist groups," and was "directly served a beer by the bartender," the motion said.

The document also states that Rittenhouse turned 18 this month and lives in Illinois. "Under Illinois law, it is a Class A Misdemeanor for anyone under the age of 21 to possess or consume alcohol in a public place," the motion states.

In Wisconsin, however, it is legal for someone under the age of 21 to possess and consume alcohol if a parent is present.

Prosecutors are also asking the court to "prohibit the defendant from publicly displaying symbols and gestures that are associated with violent white supremacist groups and from associating with known members of those groups, particularly the Proud Boys" -- as they believe it could result in potential witness intimidation.

Video shows moments before shooting of Jacob Blake

New video captures the moments leading up to the police shooting of a 29-year-old Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Rittenhouse pleaded not guilty to the charges for which he was arraigned.

CNN has reached out to Rittenhouse's attorney for comment.

Rittenhouse's attorneys have maintained that Rittenhouse was acting in self-defense when he opened fire.

In a hearing last month, Rittenhouse's attorney, Mark Richards, accused prosecutors of presenting "a one-sided, stilted view" of events that night.

Richards introduced screenshots of surveillance video that he said showed his client acted in self-defense while being chased by a gun-toting protester. In another image, Rittenhouse appeared to be struck with a skateboard while on the ground.

Anthony M. Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum were killed in the incident, and Gaige Grosskreutz was wounded.

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ABC 7 Chicago contributed to this report.