One of three alleged Illinois militia members accused of bombing a Minnesota mosque last year has pleaded not guilty to hate crime and explosives charges, and a second member is expected to make a court appearance on Wednesday.

One of the four Ford County residents accused of committing crimes to support a private militia group changed his plea to ‘guilty’ in federal court in Urbana Tuesday. Ellis “EJ” Mack has agreed to cooperate with authorities.

Four men from Ford County were in a federal courtroom in Urbana Thursday, pleading ‘not guilty’ to charges related to alleged activities as a militia group called the “White Rabbits”.

Three Ford County men accused of bombing a Minnesota mosque last summer are expected to remain in Illinois for the time being to face charges in a related case.

Three Ford County men have been charged with arson in the bombing last year of a mosque in suburban Minneapolis.