Wisconsin Dells man allegedly involved in MI Gov. kidnapping plot makes bond, out of jail

PORTAGE, Wis. (WMTV) - The Wisconsin Dells man who is allegedly involved in the kidnapping plot of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has made bond Monday night and is out of the Columbia County Jail.

An officer on duty at the jail confirmed 51-year-old Brian Higgins' release. The cash bond was set at $10,000 Monday for Higgins earlier in the day Monday.

Judge Todd Hepler decided on the $10,000 bond for Brian Higgins, 51, after the state had requested a $1 million cash bond.

The ruling comes with standard conditions for felony charges, including that Higgins cannot leave Wisconsin, his travel is limited to Columbia and Dane counties and he must surrender his passport. Higgins is also not allowed to have contact with the co-conspirators that were listed in the criminal complaint.

There will be a status conference at 2 p.m. on Nov. 18.

Higgins was last in court on Friday when it was decided that he would stay in Columbia County, at least until over the weekend. He was arrested on Thursday and charged with material support in an act of terrorism, which is a 20-year felony.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a total of 20 charges against eight people who were known to be members of the militia group Wolverine Watchman, or are associates of the group. There were an additional six people federally charged, as well.

The affidavit alleges that the FBI became aware in early 2020 of groups of people in several states that were discussing a violent overthrow of the government and law enforcement entities. These groups then reportedly united and agreed to take violent actions on government organizations that they believed were violating the U.S. Constitution.

The affidavit continued, reporting that Higgins aided the group in physical surveillance of the governor’s vacation home. On one night of surveillance, Higgins allegedly used night-vision goggles for surveillance and mounted a digital dash camera on his vehicle to record surveillance of Gov. Whitmer’s home.

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