Brad Eugene Branch (born c. 1960[1]) is an American former Branch Davidian who was charged and convicted of aiding and abetting voluntary manslaughter of federal agents during the 1993 Waco siege and weapons charges.[1][2][3] He was sentenced to ten years in prison for the voluntary manslaughter charge and thirty years for the weapons charges.[4][5] Originally, the charge of carrying a firearm during a violent crime was based on a conspiracy to murder charge that was acquitted for Branch and other Davidians,[6] but federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Walter Smith to reinstate the weapons charges, which he did.[7] The Branch Davidians, including Brad Branch, attempted to appeal the charges, but the appeals were turned down in 1997.[8][9] The United States Supreme Court agreed to hear appellate arguments from the Branch Davidians including Branch in 2000.[10] In response to the Supreme Court's ruling that Smith overstepped his power in his sentencing, he reduced his and other Davidians' sentences to five years for the weapons charges.[11][12][13]

During the February 28, 1993, shootout that began the siege, Branch reportedly shot and killed a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agent, shouting that he "got one!"[14] Branch Davidian Marjorie Thomas testified that she heard Branch and Kevin Whitecliff, another Branch Davidian, admitting they shot at agents during the shootout.[15][16] Another Davidian, Victorine Hollingsworth, testified she also heard Branch and Livingstone Fagan discuss firing on agents on February 28, 1993.[17] After the shootout, he, Whitecliff, and Oliver Gyarfas were sent out of the compound to dig a grave for Peter Gent, who died in the shootout.[18] Branch had indicated to federal authorities that he wished to exit Mount Carmel Center during the siege on March 11, 1993.[19] He left the compound with Whitecliff with permission from Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on March 19, 1993.[20][21][22] The only reason that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received for why they left when they did was because before then "it wasn't time".[23] While jailed after leaving the compound, Branch told NBC that David Koresh sought to challenge other Christian leaders to see who can "reveal the book", meaning the Bible.[24] Also while in jail, Brad Branch told CNN that the April 19 fire that destroyed the Mount Carmel compound was a "systematic assassination by the FBI to eliminate all of the crime scene".[25] Branch soon after the siege also believed that Koresh was not responsible for the fire.[26]

Branch was released from prison in 2006 and lived in the San Antonio area as of 2012.[27] Branch was an aircraft electrician from San Antonio, Texas, before becoming a Branch Davidian.[28]

References

  1. ^ a b Pressley, Sue Anne (February 27, 1994). "JURY ACQUITS CULT MEMBERS OF MURDER IN WACO SHOOTOUT". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  2. ^ "Jailed Branch Davidians wait, hope as Waco probe reopened". CNN. September 17, 1999. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  3. ^ Newport, Kenneth G. C. (2006). The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of An Apocalyptic Sect. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 249. ISBN 9780199245741.
  4. ^ "5 Each Get 40 Years In Waco Case". The New York Times. June 18, 1994. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  5. ^ Associated Press (June 5, 2000). "5 Davidians' Jail Terms Reduced". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  6. ^ Cardwell, Cary (February 26, 1994). "Branch Davidians acquitted of murder conspiracy charges". UPI. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  7. ^ "Judge Restores Weapons Convictions Against 7 Davidians". The Oklahoman. March 10, 1994. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  8. ^ "5 Branch Davidians' Sentences Are Upheld". The New York Times. September 5, 1997. pp. A32.
  9. ^ "Hearing to reconsider sentencing of Koresh followers". Associated Press. September 4, 1997.
  10. ^ England, Mark; Witherspoon, Tommy (January 14, 2000). "U.S. Supreme Court will hear appeal from Branch Davidians". Cox News Service.
  11. ^ Bryce, Robert (September 22, 2000). "Naked City". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  12. ^ "JURIST CUTS DAVIDIAN SENTENCES". Chicago Tribune. September 19, 2000. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  13. ^ "Judge reduces Davidians' sentences for 1993 raid". Associated Press. September 19, 2000.
  14. ^ "Former Federal Prosecutor Bill Johnson Discusses Branch Davidian Siege in Waco". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  15. ^ "Cult 'spread fuel hours before fire'". Evening Standard. February 15, 1994.
  16. ^ Associated Press (February 15, 1994). "Koresh Tapes Contain Discussion of Fuel, Fire". Dayton Daily News.
  17. ^ Shannon, Kelley (February 2, 1994). "Branch Davidian Says Koresh Planned ATF Ambush, Mass Suicide". Associated Press.
  18. ^ Doyle, Clive; Wessinger, Catherine; Wittmer, Matthew D. (2012). A Journey to Waco: Autobiography of a Branch Davidian. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 142. ISBN 9786613860538.
  19. ^ Kennedy, J. Michael (March 13, 1993). "2 Allowed to Leave Texas Cult Compound : Standoff: Australian man and a mother of 4 come out. Woman's children were released earlier, husband was killed in Feb. 28 shootout". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  20. ^ "Waco: The Inside Story: Chronology of the Siege". PBS. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  21. ^ Newport, Kenneth G. C. (2006). The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of An Apocalyptic Sect. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 269. ISBN 9780199245741.
  22. ^ Verhovek, Sam Howe (March 21, 1993). "Leader of Cult Talks of Details Of a Surrender". The New York Times. p. 20.
  23. ^ MacIntyre, Ben (March 13, 1993). "Mother surrenders to Waco besiegers". The Times.
  24. ^ Verhovek, Sam Howe (March 25, 1993). "Decibels, Not Bullets, Bombard Texas Sect". The New York Times. pp. A16.
  25. ^ Kerstetter, Todd (2004). ""That's Just the American Way": The Branch Davidian Tragedy and Western Religious History". Western Historical Quarterly. 35 (4): 453–471. doi:10.2307/25443054. ISSN 0043-3810. JSTOR 25443054.
  26. ^ Aron, Jaime (April 20, 1993). "Cult Followers Still Believers". AP NEWS. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  27. ^ Doyle, Clive; Wessinger, Catherine; Wittmer, Matthew D. (2012). A Journey to Waco: Autobiography of a Branch Davidian. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 180. ISBN 9786613860538.
  28. ^ Reinhold, Robert (March 14, 1993). "Sect Members Are Hurting but the Siege Goes On". The New York Times. p. 24.
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