“Five Members of Patriot Front Convicted of Conspiracy to Riot at Pride Event”

Five members of the white nationalist hate group Patriot Front have been convicted of misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to riot at a Pride event in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The members, Forrest Rankin, Devin Center, Derek Smith, James Michael Johnson, and Robert Whitted, were found guilty by a Kootenai County jury after just one hour of deliberation.

The arrests took place on June 11, 2022, after someone reported seeing individuals loading into a U-Haul van, described as “a little army,” at a hotel parking lot. Police discovered riot gear, a smoke grenade, shin guards, and shields inside the van when they pulled it over near the location of the North Idaho Pride Alliance’s Pride in the Park event.

Documents found with the group detailed a plan to form a column outside City Park and proceed inward until they encountered barriers. Once they had established a confrontational dynamic, the group would disengage and head down Sherman Avenue.

The arrested individuals came from various states, including Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Colorado, South Dakota, Illinois, Wyoming, Virginia, and Arkansas.

Rioting is generally considered a misdemeanor in Idaho, but conspiracy to riot is punishable by up to one year in jail, a $5,000 fine, and up to two years of probation. The five men are scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.

This conviction serves as a reminder of the ongoing presence of hate groups in society and the potential threats they pose to marginalized communities. It also highlights the importance of law enforcement efforts in identifying and apprehending individuals involved in hate crimes. The conviction of these five members of Patriot Front sends a strong message that such acts of violence and intimidation will not be tolerated..