Topic: Weapons Charges

Paul Fatta lists the federal charges brought against him, including conspiracy to murder federal agents and manufacturing automatic weapons. He describes his experience in county jail, noting that other inmates initially feared the Branch Davidians due to media coverage. However, he claims many prisoners eventually showed respect for the group because they stood up against the government system.

The conversation covers a legal deal made between defense and prosecution regarding self-defense and manslaughter charges without defendant consent. While the jury found the defendants not guilty of murder or conspiracy, they were convicted on weapons charges that the judge initially considered scrapping before reinstating.

Defense attorneys reportedly made a deal with prosecutors to allow a self-defense plea in exchange for including voluntary manslaughter charges, allegedly without consulting the Davidian defendants. The jury was later given nearly 90 pages of complex instructions regarding the third count of possessing a firearm during a violent crime. This legal maneuvering resulted in a confusing verdict where defendants were acquitted of murder but convicted on weapons charges.