In years past, people have sought ways to live without government intervention, but alleged illegal activity by “sovereign citizens” has put county officials on alert. 

The state attorney general's office forwarded a preliminary injunction order issued by Justice Donald Marden of York County Superior Court to the Lincoln County Registry of Deeds that prohibits certain residents of Limerick from filing in any of Maine's registry of deeds without court approval. 

Register Rebecca Wotton of the Lincoln County Registry of Deeds shared some information about the injunction order with the County Commissioners during their August 7 meeting.

As indicated by the discussion between Wotton and commissioners, the Limerick residents have joined a national movement of sovereign citizens who, according to the FBI, reject the authority of most governmental institutions. 

“I've been here for 20 years,” Wotton said during a follow-up interview. Referencing the letters and other recordings filed claiming legal immunity, she shook her head. “And I haven't seen anyone file such documents.”

According to special agent in charge Richard Deslauriers of the FBI, some who identify themselves as sovereign citizens, “may also engage in ideologically-based schemes claiming to eliminate legitimate debts,” and utilize tactics that include, “filing nonsensical 'legal' paperwork via the clerk's office.”

Wotton said the court order was issued due to a flood of recordings filed at the deeds office in York County and that a family there was fighting foreclosure on their property. 

The Maine State Police believe the movement had a resurgence following the decline of the economy in 2008.

A training handbook from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in Vassalboro states, “The basic belief of the Sovereign Citizen is that our government is ‘illegal’ and they will not respect or adhere to any laws or authority figures, specifically law enforcement officers, judges, taxing agencies, and politically elected officials. The Sovereign Citizens see these individuals as mere agents of a fraudulent and oppressive government.”

One document filed by Dustin Connor Sage of Limerick inserts passages from the Old Testament and argues against having to register his car with the Department of Motor Vehicles. 

One passage states, “The long arm of the federal government derives it's authority in traffic related issues from the commerce clause and has no authority whatsoever over the men and women of several states unless and until they voluntarily engage in commerce.”

The document demands more than $92 million payment “for conversion” from attorney Gene Libby, Ronald Lupton of the Attorney General's Office, staff members from the York Bureau of Motor Vehicles, courts, and Maine Bar Association. 

A letter from John Alton of the Poulin family to Gov. John Baldacci, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and other officials dated Mar. 13, 2010, rejects laws of state and federal government.

In sections of the letter, Alton wrote, “My authority for this statement is the same as it is for all free Sovereigns everywhere: the age-old, timeless, and universal respect for the intrinsic rights, property, freedoms, and responsibilities of the Sovereign Individual.”

“I am not a 'UNITED STATES' citizen subject to its jurisdiction. I am not subject to any legislation, department, or agency created by such authorities, nor to the jurisdiction of any employees, officers, or agents deriving their authority therefrom,”  Alton wrote.

Wotton said the Sheriff's Association is planning on having a training session on sovereign citizen activities during the annual Maine County Commissioners Association convention in Boothbay Harbor early next month.