A Colorado Man that just sounds like a barrel of laughs ended up with a 12 year old Jail sentence this week after two years of inundating judges and private citizens with the kind of “paper terrorism” popularized by the United States sovereign citizen Movement.
Brett Andrew Nelson is no stranger to the legal system. Over the course of two years, he ended up in court for traffic violations as well as a number of other minor matters such as a dog bite case and problems in family court. Instead of paying the few thousand dollars in fines and going to mediation, Nelson launched a campaign of what the FBI calls “paper terrorism” and threatening behavior. Here are some of his actions over the course of two years CBS:
The indictment then contains a series of threats.
- Nelson claimed in an Alamosa County filing that his freedom was a fundamental right of his “estate” and warned that any action against his estate – such as arrest, trial or trial – would be punishable by the death penalty.
- Nelson filed a $202,000 damages lawsuit against the mother of his child, accusing her of “criminal kidnapping” and “treason” and demanding that she hand the child over to him or be arrested.
- Nelson filed a suit for damages for the same amount against the Gunnison County judge presiding over the custody case, demanding the return of his child and threatening to file a lien on her personal property. That judge purchased a security system for her home and the sheriff’s office increased patrols in the area after Nelson called the home and spoke with the judge’s husband.
- Nelson filed a default judgment against an Alamosa County judge claiming the judge owed him $425,000, filed a power of attorney declaring his legal authority over the judge, filed a judgment document declaring the damages awarded was increased to nearly $7 million, and then repeatedly sent a message to the judge’s email address demanding payment. That judge told his family members to call 9-1-1 if Nelson was ever seen and provided them with a photo of him.
- Nelson filed a default judgment against a Colorado State Patrol trooper for $5,000; another against an Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy for $650,000 and two other deputies for $36,000 each; another against a Gunnison County deputy for $75,000; and another against a sergeant at the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office for $95,000
- Nelson filed a default judgment against the assistant district attorney in the 12th Judicial District, who prosecuted traffic offenses against Nelson, in the amount of $275,000 for “unlawful administration of his estate, unlawful imprisonment in a false court, abuse of her position and “assault on the right”. “We the People” (and) acts of treason, humiliation and intimidation,” the indictment says.
- Nelson filed a default judgment against a Gunnison County nurse for $185,000.
- Nelson filed a default judgment against a Gunnison County social worker involved in a child abuse investigation of Nelson, seeking $45,000.
- Nelson was charged with theft in 2017. He filed default judgments against the three alleged victims in the amounts of $325,000 and $550,000.
- Nelson also filed a proxy notice against the assistant district attorney who prosecuted the theft case, as well as the same proxy notice against another assistant district attorney in the 7th District who prosecuted two misdemeanor cases against Nelson, and yet another proxy notice against the district attorney for Alamosa County thereafter refused to accept Nelson’s previous documents and records.
- Nelson also filed a $135,000 claim with the then-editor of the Gunnison Country Times, which covered the theft case.
That’s a load of nonsense! People in the cities where he spread pseudo-legalese and frivolous lawsuits lived in fear of Nelson. Even though he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for 20 counts of extortion, forgery and menacing, judges in Gunnison, Montrose and Alamosa counties still fear for their safety, Greg Haase, one of Nelson’s neighbors and victims, told CBS :
“It was so regular. We started talking to other people in town: ‘Oh, I have four of them (registrations).'”
Haase said the homeowners association took over the eviction process for the 93-year-old homeowner, who rented to Nelson, and removed him from the neighborhood.
Haase said he, his wife, his neighbors and many community members are relieved that Nelson is behind bars. But they’re not sure if he’ll stay there, that his bond won’t weaken, or that they’ll be able to deal with the trauma caused by Nelson.
“We doubt that Drew Nelson will ultimately be held accountable for all the harm he caused,” Haase said. “Our lawyer would say the system is not designed to deal with someone abusing it in this way. And if the legal system cannot protect judges from a defendant’s hostile actions, what hope can the rest of us have that the system will ultimately deliver justice in our cases?”
Most Americans interact with the police and legal system through traffic court, so a lot of nonsense about sovereign citizens revolves around cars. The police even receive special training in dealing with people operating on another planet.
Sovereign citizens often use fake license plates on their cars, declaring that they have no need for things like driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, or insurance. They use legal mumbo-jumbo to deny their American citizenship, or they deny the validity of the United States entirely to immunize themselves from following the law. Of course, this never works, but it doesn’t stop them from trying.
They’re a fun bunch. Maybe Nelson can learn about the real laws that actually apply in the prison’s law library, because he thinks that might make him even more dangerous when he’s released.