PITTSBURGH — A Rimersburg man, one of several people arrested in a sweep by an anti-terrorism task force, was the subject of an undercover investigation targeting militias, an FBI agent testified at a detention hearing today.

A federal magistrate ordered Marvin E. Hall, 49, jailed until he can stand trial on weapons charges.

At the hearing before U.S. Magistrate Amy Reynolds Hay, FBI Agent Daniel Yocca testified that the probe focused on suspected militia members with a "propensity for violence." Yocca also testified about recordings in which the defendants discussed "flame-thrower parties" and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.

Asked by Hall's defense attorney whether Hall belonged to a militia, Yocca said: "(Hall) said he is not one but is associated with them."

Hall faces weapons charges after a raid on his home Sunday. Four other people, including Hall's live-in girlfriend, were charged following federal raids on at least two homes.

Authorities contend Hall illegally transferred two explosive golf balls to an unidentified person in January.

He is also accused of illegally possessing a 12-gauge shotgun and an SKS assault rifle. It is illegal for Hall to have guns because of a 1999 conviction on federal weapons charges for possessing a grenade launcher he made. Agents also said they found grenade launcher components during Sunday's raid.