From Judge Laura Provinzino (D. Minn.) yesterday in U.S. v. Levy-Armstrong:
Defendants … were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy against rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241. That statute makes it illegal for two or more people to "conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person" in the "free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States." {The statute provides for a $250,000 fine and up to ten years in prison.}
The affidavit supporting the complaint specifically identifies the right as the free exercise of religion at a place of religious worship. The affidavit details that on the morning of Sunday, January 18, 2026, at approximately 10:30 a.m., "a group of approximately 30-40 agitators, working together in a coordinated manner" entered a church in St. Paul during a religious service and engaged in conduct that "disrupted the religious service and intimidated, harassed, oppressed, and terrorized the parishioners, including young children, and caused the service to be cut short and forced parishioners to flee the church out of a side door, which resulted in one female victim falling and suffering an injury."
On January 22, 2026, Defendants made their initial appearances before Magistrate Judge Micko. The United States moved for a detention hearing, and Magistrate Judge Micko found a detention hearing was not authorized. {Even so, Magistrate Judge Micko asked the United States if it would have additional evidence to present were he to have held a detention hearing. The attorneys for the United States confirmed that there was no additional evidence they would offer. In addition, Magistrate Judge Micko indicated on the record that he would come to the same decision even if he had held a formal detention hearing.} …
Magistrate Judge Micko imposed individualized conditions to assure that the Defendants appear at future court proceedings and to protect the safety of the community. Those included: (1) supervision by U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services; (2) travel outside of Minnesota restricted unless approved by a supervising officer; (3) no-contact with any victims or witnesses of the charged offense; (4) no possession of a firearm, destructive device, or other weapon; and (5) at the request of the United States, a stay-away condition which reads: "Defendant shall stay away from the church location identified in the Complaint Affidavit. 'Stay away' means no closer than the public sidewalk nearest to the location of the Church." Magistrate Judge Micko ordered Defendants' release on an appearance bond.
