A federal judge has granted a protective order in the criminal case of Kevin Hunt, the Canyon teenager accused of planning an attack during the city’s Fourth of July parade. The order, requested by federal prosecutors, suggests that others may have been involved in the alleged plot and that the investigation is still ongoing.
Hunt has been charged in federal court with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. In state court, he faces separate charges of possessing components of explosives, attempt to commit capital murder of multiple persons, and terrorism. Authorities say Hunt intended to carry out an attack during the annual holiday parade, an event that typically draws large crowds of families and spectators from across the Texas Panhandle.
A motion for a protective order filed by prosecutors states that “there are other potential unindicted coconspirators” connected to Hunt and that the investigation has expanded to include “other individuals being investigated that communicated with (Hunt) in various online platforms.” The filings do not identify the platforms or the individuals involved, and no additional arrests have been announced.
According to the documents, investigators seized a large volume of electronic devices, communications, and juvenile records while gathering evidence. Because many individuals connected to the case—including some who may have communicated with Hunt—are minors, the records contain protected and personally identifying information.
Prosecutors told the court that the size and sensitivity of the evidence make it “voluminous and fraught with personally identifying and other confidential information,” adding that attempting to remove identifying details from every file would be “overly burdensome and may not be entirely possible.”
Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk granted the protective order on Friday.
The order outlines strict limits on how Hunt’s defense team can access and use the evidence. Under the ruling, the defense may review the evidence but cannot make copies of it, cannot share it with anyone outside the legal team, and cannot provide physical or digital copies to Hunt himself—though Hunt will be allowed to inspect the materials while supervised. Defense attorneys are also prohibited from discussing case-related information with anyone other than the judge and attorneys directly involved.
This approach allows both sides to prepare for trial without delaying proceedings for massive redaction efforts. It also ensures that identifying information about minors and uncharged individuals remains confidential while the investigation continues.
However, the protective order means the public may learn fewer details about the case in the near future. Because attorneys are restricted in what they can share, updates on the investigation, including whether additional suspects will be charged, may not become public until court hearings or new filings are made.
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