Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan Supreme Court has upheld the minimum sentence of 32 months’ incarceration for Justen Watkins, the leader of the white supremacist group The Base, after denying his appeal application. The Court's decision was announced by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who expressed gratitude for the conclusion of the matter. Nessel stated, "This matter has reached a conclusion, and for that I am grateful, as the Michigan Supreme Court denied this sentencing appeal from the white supremacist hate group leader Watkins."

The Court of Appeals' opinion, which was upheld by the Supreme Court, reversed a previous order that granted Watkins' motion for resentencing. Watkins had pleaded guilty to Conspiring to Train for a Civil Disorder and Felony Firearm and was sentenced accordingly. Nessel emphasized, "Watkins’ convictions were never in question throughout this process, only his claimed sentencing ambiguity, which the Court of Appeals ruled does not exist."

In October 2020, Watkins was charged in connection to a terrorizing incident involving a Dexter family and the discovery of The Base members assessing properties for paramilitary firearms training exercises. The charges against Watkins included larceny, gang membership, conspiracy to train with firearms for a civil disorder, and felony firearm. Watkins later pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to incarceration as per the plea agreement.

The Base, founded in 2018, is a white supremacist group advocating for violence and criminal acts against the U.S. with the aim of establishing white ethnonationalist rule. The group also promotes Nazi ideology and extreme anti-Semitism.

The denial of Watkins' appeal by the Michigan Supreme Court marks the conclusion of a legal battle that began with his arrest in connection to the activities of The Base. The decision reaffirms the commitment of Michigan authorities to prosecute hate-based violent extremists to the fullest extent of the law.