Man Accused In Whitmer Kidnapping Plot May Plead Guilty Wednesday

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — One of six men facing federal conspiracy to kidnap charges in connection to a plot to kidnap and potentially kill Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could plead guilty in federal court Wednesday.

Ty Garbin, 25, is scheduled for a change of plea hearing at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the United States District Court Western Division of Michigan in Grand Rapids, according to federal documents filed Thursday.

Garbin originally had been slated to stand trial March 23 along with his five co-defendants — Brandon Caserta, Barry Croft, Daniel Harris, Adam Fox and Kaleb Franks. All six men are charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping, a felony life offense.

Eight others are also charged in connection with the plot against Whitmer, but that case is being handled at the state level by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Related: Trial Date Set For 6 Accused In Plot To Kidnap Michigan Governor

Garbin, who is from Hartland Township, was a consistent attendee of conspiracy meetings and training exercises with other members, federal documents show. He was among a group that discussed attacking a Michigan State Police facility and then suggested "shooting up" the governor's vacation home, according to federal documents.

Garbin offered to paint his personal boat black in order to hide it more effectively if the group were to spy on the governor's vacation home from the water, according to federal documents.

According to federal charging documents, the six men charged in the federal case plotted ways to kidnap and potentially kill Whitmer. Feds said they spied on Whitmer's vacation home and even discussed blowing up a bridge near the home to delay first responders.

The group's "leader," Fox, had discussed storming the Michigan Capitol, saying he needed about 200 men to do so, documents show.

Harris at one point suggested the team simply knock on Whitmer's door and, when she answered, "just cap her," according to documents.