The San Benito County Militia takes pride in the fact that its
members drive fear into the heart of every big mouth bass in a 50
mile radius.
Hollister – The San Benito County Militia takes pride in the fact that its members drive fear into the heart of every big mouth bass in a 50 mile radius.
But the gatherings of the self-proclaimed group of geriatric juveniles, which can range from 15 to 25 people sitting around a table drinking coffee every weekday morning, have got some people up in arms lately. The chairwoman of the Republican Central Committee, Jennifer Zapata, filed a request for a temporary restraining order against the coffee club and, specifically, one of its members, former Republican Central Committee Chair Marvin Jones.
Zapata claimed in the declaration filed with the San Benito County Superior Court on July 19 that members of the Militia have implied threats of violence toward her, and are attempting to use methods of fear and intimidation to take over the Republican Central Committee.
“I feel that my privacy as a citizen has been invaded and I feel an implied threat of violence,” Zapata said. “And I believe there is a connection between what’s been going on over the last couple months with the (Republican Central) committee.”
But Militia members just shake their heads at their alleged “extremism.”
The Militia, which has been around for about 20 years, used to meet every weekday morning at a downtown restaurant for coffee and small talk before being discouraged from meeting there because of all the publicity the group was attracting, Jones said. They now meet at Jerry’s Restaurant, but the topics remain the same – fishing, hunting, pretty girls and Jeeps, and not necessarily in that order.
“We talk about what any group of retirees talk about,” said member Richard Boomer.
“It’s just a bunch of old farts drinking coffee,” said one member.
They chose the name Militia as a joke because many of them are ex-military. And while some are passionate about their right to bear arms, others don’t even own a gun and not all of them are Republican, white or even male.
Every once in a while women grace their presence – ostensibly interjecting some female wisdom to the lengthy diatribes of hunting expeditions and the state of affairs in the Governator’s office.
But Zapata claims she’s seen a much more sinister side of the group – so much so she stated in her declaration that Republican Central Committee members are concerned Militia members might be packing concealed weapons during meetings and that their behavior is verging on the criminal.
In the declaration, Zapata referenced an instance at a previous committee meeting where Jones, who has since been kicked off the Republican Central Committee, flipped off executive committee members and “was observed to be making smoochy faces at times.” She claims county Planning Commissioner and Militia member Richard Bettencourt approached her husband after church one Sunday and told him that Zapata was ruining the group’s plans for the county and that he “did point his finger and shake it rapidly while talking” to her husband.
Another Militia member, Derryl Cooper, came to one committee meeting a half and hour early, peeked into a room Zapata was in, walked out and then came back a half an hour later. “I was not alone, but I am concerned about what the intent was had I been alone,” Zapata stated in the declaration.
Crank calls, advertisements for sex drugs received via e-mail and sexually explicit calls to her cell phone also made her list of reasons why Superior Court Judge Harry Tobias should issue a temporary restraining order when the case goes to trial on Aug. 9.
Militia members just shake their heads at Zapata’s claims. Jones did confess to giving some executive members the bird and making “kissy faces” at them during a meeting – after one of them called his wife white trash, he said.
Bettencourt said he never confronted Zapata’s husband. Cooper said he’s been legally blind since 1994 (which is when the DMV snatched his license) but is now being characterized as a gun-toting stalker. And no one fessed up to crank calling the chairwoman or sending her e-mails advertising sex drugs.
While the members did admit to being a bit childish at times – Jones said he’s real sorry for the smoochy faces – they believe politics motivate the onslaught on their social club.
“Nobody’s ever said anything bad about us until Jennifer’s inferences,” said Ron Stubblefield. “This is nothing but a political vendetta.”
Jones believes District Attorney John Sarsfield has orchestrated the entire thing. Sarsfield has dismissed the allegation as ridiculous.
Zapata also took issue with the group’s use of the term “militia” and what they wear. Many group members wear a “shirt and vest with a bunch of pins about guns, including something about assault weapons,” she stated in her declaration.
“I am also aware that modern day extremist militias tend to be passionate about assault weapons although I do not know if this is the philosophy of the militia,” she wrote in her request for a restraining order.
Members of the group do wear denim vests with a Yosemite Sam-like logo stitched onto the breast pocket. Many have an assortment of pins, such as from the Hollister Independence Day Rally or which express support for President Bush. They say Zapata’s claims would be funny if they weren’t so serious.
“It would be a joke, except it’s going to adversely affect people,” Jones said. “I hope the judge laughs it right out of court.”
Local attorney George Barton agreed to represent the group and, although he believes the claim is baseless, will gladly accompany the members to court in two weeks.
“It’s just an attempt to chill their First Amendment rights of freedom of expression,” he said. “But I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
