No bail for Mennonite gunslingers

Also appearing in San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court this morning, were Cornelio Marten, Jake Dueck Marten, Maria Marten, Judith Marten and a twelve-year old girl. The five Mennonites from the Lower Barton Creek settlement have been charged with a number of crimes including possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, keeping a military uniform and going equipped with the purpose of committing a crime. Today, the three women were granted bail in the amount of ten thousand dollars each plus two sureties of the same amount. They also had to hand over to the court all of their travel documents. Cornelio Marten and Jake Dueck Marten were not so lucky and have been remanded to Hattieville Prison. Sources in Spanish Lookout tell News 5 that Cornelio Marten had been ostracised from the Barton Creek community over a decade ago for his violation of church doctrine, but continued to live in the area. The two men are scheduled to reappear in court on August nineteenth.