Topic: East Texas

The standoff in East Texas continues as John Joe Gray declares his willingness to die to protect his land and the children from government intervention. Despite the aggressive rhetoric, Sheriff Alfred reports that informal negotiations may be starting, as Gray has inquired about obtaining a court-appointed attorney. ABC News' 20/20 continues to monitor the situation and provides exclusive video of the compound on their website.

John Joe Gray, a 51-year-old self-proclaimed freedom fighter and colonel in the Texas Militia, has barricaded himself and 17 supporters inside an armed compound 60 miles south of Dallas. Gray faces felony charges for the assault of two state troopers but refuses to surrender, claiming the charges are politically motivated. The group has fortified the ranch with steel gates, barbed wire, and sandbags, vowing to fight to the death against any government raid.

Keith Tarkenton, the former son-in-law of John Joe Gray, claims his two young sons are being held illegally inside the armed compound. Tarkenton expresses fear that the situation will mirror the deadly 1993 Branch Davidian standoff in nearby Waco. He has not seen his children since the summer of 1999, when his wife took them to the compound following their separation.