How is this idiot still allowed to serve? Even if his days are numbered?

2021-06-16T23:12:13-04:00

This is about a prior commander (CW2) who happens to still be on our books. Little backstory, when this man took over our unit in 2017 I could see from day one he was “off” to say the least. During our initial interactions I could tell he just wasn’t right. He did and said a number of things I’ve never seen, heard or would have expected from a commander (19 years of this. I’ve been through a few). I attempted to bring these things up to higher and was basically just written off as the disgruntled 1SG who didn’t like his boss. They were right, I didn’t like him at all but I was concerned because he was just flat out bad for the unit. That was highlighted on an absolute sh*tshow of a deployment in 2019. We get back and he immediately changes his name to some off the wall BS. Goes on some near year long training with his civilian job (DoD). When he came back he disappeared for a few months. Turns out he had been pulled over because he was driving an unregistered vehicle with sovereign plates. He didn’t go to court. Bench warrant was issued. When they went to arrest him they noticed he was living within 500’ of a school which he is not allowed to do due to an aggravated sexual abuse of a minor charge that he pled guilty to in the 90’s. He spent nearly 80 days in jail. Mostly because he’d not cooperate and spew that sovereign crap in court and the judge would just send him right back. I honestly thought I’d never see him again. He showed up this past weekend to drill. Sovereign plates and everything. I was not at all kind to him. Basically told him that sovereign BS has absolutely no compatibility with military service and he’d better stay the hell away from my Soldiers and myself with a little rougher language. He told me I was being insubordinate. Told him I didn’t care and he could write me up. There’s also the fact that he sexually abused a minor. Why the hell is this man still allowed to continue serving in the military? Even for another day. He is an embodiment of conduct unbecoming. The FBI classifies the sovereign citizen movement as a domestic terrorist organization. Why isn’t he gone? The man is a flat-out nut as well. He legitimately believes he is the rightful owner of half of the state of Alabama and has filed paperwork to get it back. Hope none of you live there. You’ll owe him dues when he gets it…

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 16 at 2021 11:51 PM

2021-06-16T23:51:03-04:00

Someone actually claims half of Alabama? SFC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SPC James Neidig made Jun 17 at 2021 12:53 AM

2021-06-17T00:53:09-04:00

Tell Him He Can Have Half of California if He Moves There , He Will Fit Right in With The Rest of the Fruits and Nuts

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 17 at 2021 1:07 AM

2021-06-17T01:07:37-04:00

I wish you had given enough information about him to Google him, I could really use a laugh.

Response by LTC David Brown made Jun 17 at 2021 2:06 AM

2021-06-17T02:06:56-04:00

I don’t understand the whole thing either.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2021 4:48 AM

2021-06-17T04:48:26-04:00

Sadly this is more common in the reserves and NG. Numbers tend to be short and so kicking someone get harder a harder. This was like active duty in 2006 to 2010 timeframe. Had guys busted for heroin that we had to fight to kick out as it was only his first offense.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jun 17 at 2021 5:50 AM

2021-06-17T05:50:17-04:00

All I can suggest is document, document, document. Dates, times, statements as exact as you can. Then send it up the chain. I might also try the mental health route

Response by SSG George Holtje made Jun 17 at 2021 8:13 AM

2021-06-17T08:13:06-04:00

I don't know. But, as long as CID and other assets are investigating Pink bellies and not paying attention to sex crimes, I guess they are doing their job.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 17 at 2021 9:02 AM

2021-06-17T09:02:40-04:00

For those unfamiliar...

9 things to prepare for when encountering sovereign citizens

Sovereign citizens fancy themselves outside of the laws of the land and don’t recognize the legitimacy of the U.S. government

Here are nine indicators that you may be in contact with a sovereign citizen.

1. A sovereign citizen’s license plates are sometimes completely and obviously fraudulent. They may refer to the “republic” of a given state or have the word “sovereign” on the plate itself.

2. A Sovereign citizen may give you a pile of paperwork when simply prompted for a license. The paperwork is often totally unrelated to your request for identification. If they do give you identification, it may very well be fraudulent or from a place that doesn’t even exist. These documents are designed to frustrate, confuse, and most dangerously, distract you. You know what your state’s driver’s license looks like. You know what your state’s registration looks like. Don’t fall victim to this tactic.

3. A sovereign citizen may ask for your “Oath of Office.” Sovereigns believe an officer is required to carry a copy of the oath taken upon appointment to law enforcement. Obviously, this is not something most of us carry with us — nor is there any legal requirement to do so.

4. A sovereign citizen will not refer to their vehicle as a “vehicle.” They will refer to it as their “conveyance.” There are no legal requirements (registration, mechanical statues, insurance, etc.) for a conveyance. It is a shell game used to try and subvert the vehicle code.

5. A sovereign citizen doesn’t drive their vehicle. They “travel” in their “conveyance.” Again, this is a semantic attempt to avoid responsibility laid out in any given state’s vehicle code. If a person isn’t, in fact, “driving”, but rather “traveling”, how can a vehicle code apply?

6. A sovereign citizen may refer to the 14th Amendment or the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Sovereign citizens believe the 14th Amendment caused Americans to become federal citizens instead of sovereign ones. The UCC was created to “harmonize the law of sales and other commercial transactions.” Sovereign citizens believe that once the United States adopted the 14th Amendment, it became a corporation and thus, the UCC (an oppressively convoluted document) is the effective law of the land.

7. A sovereign citizen may mention they “have no contract” with you and may refuse to sign a citation. Again, this goes back to the belief that the United States is a corporation and you are an agent of that corporation. Thus, according to the UCC, they are not beholden to you or the government.

8. If you are able to get them to sign a citation, the sovereign citizen may very well sign it, add “under duress” and include a UCC section.

9. After the stop, you may receive a bill for the time you have spent with the sovereign citizen. You may be aware of it and you may not. Sovereign citizens have been known to put liens on officers’ homes that go for months or years completely unbeknownst to the officer until he or she attempts to sell or refinance a home. This is known as "paper terrorism."

Conclusion
Many of these tactics used by sovereign citizens are designed to confuse and distract law enforcement. Don’t let a situation you are unfamiliar with throw you or, worse yet, distract you to the point where your focus is off the situation at hand. You own that stop — the driver and any occupants are yours until you make the decision to cut them loose. Cops get so caught up in the job with doing things fast. Much can be gained by slowing down, taking a breath, waiting for backup and doing one thing at a time.

https://www.police1.com/terrorism/articles/9-things-to-prepare-for-when-encountering-sovereign-citizens-TQEYub9k8X2xEPKq/

9 things to prepare for when encountering sovereign citizens

Sovereign citizens fancy themselves outside of the laws of the land and don’t recognize the legitimacy of the U.S. government

Response by CW5 Mark Smith made Jun 17 at 2021 4:13 PM

2021-06-17T16:13:08-04:00

Please don't add that he has a security clearance!

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2021 5:42 PM

2021-06-17T17:42:45-04:00

We saw shit rise to the top in the 80's and 90's. Ceding to toxic leadership shouldn't be a thing. Hang tough, SFC!

I've had one employee who declared himself a "sovereign citizen." After getting a DUI in SoCal, he disappeared. I had to fire him after his work absences. I don't know what happened to him. He took an early retirement as an E6 during clinton's reign of terror, err administration.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Jun 17 at 2021 7:46 PM

2021-06-17T19:46:13-04:00

I don't know specifically how the Reserves work, but I would tell you to document what you see and have found. Take it to the IG or your next higher commander. Make sure you have documented proof, or they will toast you. In my opinion, if someone pled guilty to sex with a minor, they are lucky they are able to walk on two legs, but that is me.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2021 1:23 PM

2021-06-24T13:23:02-04:00

Sounds like part of the sovereign citizens movement. They've also been associated with the term "paper terrorism" which relates to the practice of unlawfully submitting liens against people who have wronged them. Beware that some states allow you to essentially charge someone a ridiculous amount of money and can put liens against homes, cars, and other assets simply by showing up to a courthouse and submitting the lien. If not paid these pop on credit reports and can completely disrupt lives. There are many folks like him out there albeit he seems to have some other issues going on as well. Some are just playing the system and use other gullible people to help achieve their means but many of them actually are those gullible people who truly believe that it's all factual.