Judge DESTROYS Sovereign Citizen's "No Jurisdiction" Claim—Then Instantly Sends Him to Jail!

[00:00:01]I'll sentence you to a day in the Porter County Jail for your honor.

[00:00:04]>> I have a job.

[00:00:06]>> Please take Mr. Aligretti into custody.

[00:00:13]>> We'll try again tomorrow, sir.

[00:00:15]>> Yeah.

[00:00:17][music] Indiana versus Michael Aligretti 64 D01 259F210947.

[00:00:31]Uh, defendant is prosay. State date is represented by deputy prosecutor Hammer.

[00:00:34]We were set today for I believe it was a Fetta hearing.

[00:00:39]>> It is Fetta.

[00:00:41]Mr. Aligretti wants to represent himself. Sir, did you get a copy of our uh prosay representation form?

[00:00:47]>> Yes, I did, your honor. Did >> you have a chance to review that? Yes.

[00:00:50]Did you sign it and stuff?

[00:00:52]>> No, I did not.

[00:00:53]>> No. Do you have it with you?

[00:00:54]>> No, I'm not going to sign it. I'm uh here if I may, if I may speak, your honor, I'm appearing in persona uh propo personana especially not generally. I do not submit to the jurisdiction of the court as a defendant. Okay, Mr. Already, that's all you need to say. If you're not going to submit to the jurisdiction of the court, you cannot represent yourself proate. I'll appoint the Porter County Public Defender Service to represent you.

[00:01:21]>> No, I'm sorry, sir. Uh, what you're saying is that you will not subject yourself to the jurisdiction of the court. What that tells me is that you're not capable of representing yourself because when you represent yourself in this court, you become uh to the same level as an attorney. Okay? Because you are unwilling to rep uh to subject yourself to the jurisdiction of the court, you cannot hold that status. Do you understand, sir?

[00:01:48]>> No, I do not.

[00:01:49]>> Well, that's all you need to know. I'll appoint the Porter County Public Defender Service to represent you.

[00:01:53]You're welcome to hire.

[00:01:54]>> I will not be accepting that, your honor.

[00:01:56]>> You are accepting it, sir.

[00:01:58]>> You know what? Direct my other stuff on the record if you if you don't mind.

[00:02:02]>> I will not allow you to put any garbage like what you're about to say on the record.

[00:02:06]>> Okay.

[00:02:06]>> You have filed documents in front of this court. You have uh boogered up my uh court docket with your uh prosay filings over the last couple of weeks.

[00:02:16]I've had to write orders that struck those from the record. None of that is of record because it was stricken. And I have your mail here that you apparently don't even have the correct address for the court. What's your address, sir?

[00:02:31]Do you know what direct contempt to court is, sir? Yes. Direct contempt to court is when you are in contempt of these proceedings. And one way that you can be in contempt to court is if you refuse to answer questions and you delay the proceedings. in front of this court?

[00:02:46]>> Yes.

[00:02:47]>> And you're refusing to answer questions that are as simple as what is your address? And we need to know the address for the official court record.

[00:02:55]>> I understand that, sir.

[00:02:56]>> Yes.

[00:02:56]>> What's your address?

[00:02:58]>> 702, >> Indianapolis, Indiana.

[00:03:05]>> What's the zip code?

[00:03:07]>> 46 46260.

[00:03:10]>> Just so you're clear, do you know what the uh penalty is I can give you for direct contempt to court?

[00:03:15]No. Up to 6 months in jail with no good time credit. You understand that?

[00:03:20]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:03:20]>> Okay. So, you're clear. As the hearing continued, the court focused on whether the defendant could legally represent themselves. A Ferretta hearing is not intended to determine whether a defendant agrees with the court's decisions. Instead, its purpose is to ensure that the defendant understands the responsibilities, legal procedures, and potential consequences of choosing self-representation.

[00:03:47]During the discussion, concerns arose about whether the defendant was prepared to accept the same courtroom rules and obligations that apply to licensed attorneys. The judge emphasized that representing oneself carries the same expectations for following court procedures and respecting the legal process. As the hearing progressed, >> I struck your frivolous uh proceedings from the uh record a few uh days ago.

[00:04:12]Officer Ball, can you give him this?

[00:04:14]>> Sure.

[00:04:19]In that I wanted to make sure that you were explicitly warned that well firstly I'll consider this conduct during the Ferretta hearing as evidence of an inability or unwillingness to abide by the rules of procedure which may result in the denial of your request to represent yourself which I have already done. Okay. So I denied your request to represent yourself. I've appointed counsel for you.

[00:04:41]>> I do not understand those.

[00:04:43]>> What' you say? I don't understand this proceeding and I don't understand the charges.

[00:04:48]>> I'll get back to that in a minute.

[00:04:50]>> Okay.

[00:04:50]>> Uh the second thing I notified you is that you may exercise that I may exercise my inherent authority to impose filing restrictions on you to prohibit you from filing any future prosate documents without prior judicial screening and approval. I've taken care of that because I've appointed counsel for you. And you're not allowed to do what's called hybrid representation.

[00:05:09]You're not allowed to also file things at the same time you're a lawyer's filing things because they're responsible for anything that would come to this court. Do you understand? So any motion >> what what did you not understand the words I used or what they mean?

[00:05:22]>> Everything.

[00:05:23]>> What's your level of education, sir?

[00:05:25]>> Um I did not I have some college.

[00:05:28]>> Okay. So you graduated from high school?

[00:05:30]>> No, I did not have a GED.

[00:05:32]>> You have a GED? So you graduated from high school. You have a equivalency >> Yes. of a high school graduation.

[00:05:40]>> Yes.

[00:05:41]>> Okay.

[00:05:45]So, what I said was that you're not allowed to do hybrid representation. Do you know what hybrid means?

[00:05:53]Nope. Hybrid means that there are two ways, right? Hybrid would give the understanding that you're also representing yourself per se. At the same time, you have a lawyer.

[00:06:04]>> I don't have a lawyer though.

[00:06:06]>> I just appointed a lawyer for you. But I don't want it.

[00:06:09]>> You have it because I denied your right.

[00:06:11]>> I can't afford one and I don't want a courtappointed attorney that's under represented under the bar association.

[00:06:17]>> Sir, the first words you told me was that you don't plan to submit yourself to the jurisdiction of the court. As a result, >> I wasn't able to finish.

[00:06:24]>> As a result, >> I said as a defendant.

[00:06:28]>> Well, sir, you have to submit yourself to jurisdiction of the court. That's the kind of nonsense that uh I think you're involved now with uh uh some program that you probably don't want to be if you want to try to uh represent yourself in front of this court. But in any case, the third thing I told you is I can impose further sanctions for contempt or abusive litigation practices upon you. You understand what that means?

[00:06:52]>> No, I do not. I can hold you in contempt of court for delaying these proceedings and I can sanction you for abusive litigation. All right. And the fact that you've now tried twice to file the documents that I've had to strike from the record tells me that you're willing to be an abusive litigator. Do you understand that? I do not. Okay. So, I have time that I work on cases.

[00:07:16]Everything's pretty streamlined for the most part. people understand how the rules work. Uh when they represent themselves, they make themselves apprised of all those rules and they're held to the same standard that lawyers are held to. Uh as a result, things run fairly smoothly and we have some thousands of cases that we handle each year. Because people follow the rules, they abide by our processes. We're able to get our work done in a relatively streamlined fashion. What you're suggesting to me is that I shouldn't do that. What you're suggesting to me is that I should for your specific case only have some special rules and allow you to somehow opt out of your given name, opt out of the processes and procedure of this court and allow you to proceed as your own sovereign or something of that nature. Is that correct?

[00:08:08]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:08:09]>> Correct. Right. You can't have that. You know, if you just let me doesn't follow the rules of court procedure. And >> I'm equity here.

[00:08:18]>> I'm going to follow the rules of court procedure. And if you want to ab abide by those procedures, you'll be fine. If you don't abide by those procedures, you'll be in contempt. You understand?

[00:08:30]>> I still don't understand the proceedings proceedings and the charges of this matter.

[00:08:35]>> Back on November 3rd, 2025. And at that hearing, I went through all the charges with you. And I made sure at that hearing that you understood all three charges that were filed against you and you acknowledged each and every time I went through a charge that you understood both the charge that's alleged against you and the potential penalty for that charge. Do not recall that hearing, sir?

[00:08:57]>> I recall the hearing, but I still don't understand the charges of the nature or [clears throat] the proceeding.

[00:09:03]>> Okay, sir.

[00:09:05]I just want to put that on the record.

[00:09:10]>> Well, we're going to sit here until you understand or until you at least acknowledge you understand. And if you >> That's fine, your honor. I have the day off of work.

[00:09:17]>> Say what?

[00:09:18]>> I have the day off of work. I can stay.

[00:09:20]>> Okay. So, count one says that you're charged with dealing cocaine. It alleges that on or about September 28th, 2025 here in Porter County, you did knowingly or intentionally possessed with the intent to deliver or finance the delivery of cocaine or narcotic drug and the amount was at least 10 grams contrary to the form of statute. You understand the charges in count one?

[00:09:44]>> No, I do not.

[00:09:45]>> What do you not understand, sir? The words I used or what they mean?

[00:09:49]>> What What is the definition of understand in the law? Uh, sir, you have to just acknowledge whether or not you understand.

[00:09:57]>> I don't understand, though.

[00:09:59]>> Which part do you not understand?

[00:10:00]>> I don't understand all of it.

[00:10:02]>> Okay. Well, let me go through it again.

[00:10:04]Count one suggests that you dealt cocaine, a level two felony. You understand what a date would be?

[00:10:11]September 28th to 2025.

[00:10:16]>> I still don't understand.

[00:10:17]>> Uh, sir, do you not understand what date would be? September >> to 2025. I accept your date, but I don't understand the nature of these charges.

[00:10:29]>> Okay, sir. Um, you're about this close to being held in contempt to court. You understand that?

[00:10:35]>> I understand your honor.

[00:10:36]>> And if you're held in contempt, I'm going to put you in jail, sir. And I'm going to jail you.

[00:10:40]>> Why are you forcing me to understand the charges?

[00:10:43]>> Well, I'm not forcing you to, sir.

[00:10:45]>> Yeah. just if you're just going to give me an >> to go through the statutory and constitutional procedures required of me in this court and that's for me to make sure you have a knowing and voluntary uh well not knowing and voluntary but you have an understanding of the charges filed against you it's part of your constitutional uh requirement >> and if it is I do have rights too right >> well I've gone through your rights with you understand you have certain rights in this case >> yeah I do not to advise you of your various rights in this matter you have the right to hire an attorney to represent you. Do you understand that?

[00:11:17]>> And I do want an attorney.

[00:11:18]>> Well, you understand that you have the right to one or you wouldn't be able to suggest that you don't want one.

[00:11:23]Correct.

[00:11:25]>> I don't want one.

[00:11:27]>> So, you understand the right to one.

[00:11:29]Correct.

[00:11:30]>> Correct.

[00:11:32]>> Okay. And you understand that uh uh if you can't afford one, the court will appoint one for you. Correct.

[00:11:41]If that's what you say.

[00:11:43]Oh, no, sir. You either understand or you don't. You understand?

[00:11:47]>> I understand that you want to give me a courtappointed attorney.

[00:11:51]>> No, no, no, no. I already appointed a court appointed attorney for you because you can't get through the Ferretta hearing. You understand why you can't get through the Ferretta hearing?

[00:11:59]>> No, I I do not.

[00:12:00]>> What were the first words out of your mouth when you read off your card earlier?

[00:12:03]>> I said I'm in your persona >> and then specially and not generally. I do not submit to the court's jurisdiction of the court as a defendant.

[00:12:17]>> And that's all I need to hear, sir.

[00:12:19]That's all I need to hear. Because if you're not willing to submit yourself to the jurisdiction of court, you cannot represent yourself in front of this proceeding. Do you understand that, sir?

[00:12:30]You know what jurisdiction is?

[00:12:32]>> Yes.

[00:12:32]>> Tell me about it.

[00:12:35]>> You You think that you have jurisdiction over my body, and I'm a living human being?

[00:12:39]>> Sir, are you here to practice court? Are you I I don't understand what this has to do with anything.

[00:12:44]>> I'm asking the questions and I don't care whether you think you understand it or not. You've come up here with your sovereign citizen.

[00:12:50]>> I'm not a sovereign citizen. I did not claim to be a sovereign >> trying to bring I'm using the law in equity.

[00:12:56]>> I'm using uh sort of pseudo legal jargon into the court arguing things that aren't even based on criminal law.

[00:13:04]>> I didn't even get that. You're not willing to subject yourself to the jurisdiction of the court. As a result, you can't have a lawyer. I'm sorry. You can't represent yourself. You have to have a lawyer. Somebody who understands how the court proceedings work and is an officer of the court already. You understand that?

[00:13:22]>> No, I do not.

[00:13:22]>> Which part don't you understand, sir?

[00:13:24]>> Everything. I can't even state my statement. I want to just put my statement on record.

[00:13:30]>> What's your statement?

[00:13:30]>> Why is that? Why is that so hard to >> Because the first part of your statement, this is a Ferretta hearing.

[00:13:35]I'm here for a Ferretta hearing. I've already denied your Ferretta rightites based on the very first words that came out of your mouth, which was that you're not willing to subject yourself to the jurisdiction of the court. You're not willing to subject yourself to the jurisdiction of the court. You're not capable of representing yourself and you must have counsel.

[00:13:51]>> I said as a defendant, your honor.

[00:13:54]>> Sir, I don't care how you try to qualify it.

[00:13:58]>> All right, sir. Do you understand the allegations in count one?

[00:14:01]>> No, I do not.

[00:14:01]>> Related to the uh possession of cocaine?

[00:14:04]>> No, I do not.

[00:14:06]>> Okay. I'm going to give you um another chance to explain to me what do you not understand.

[00:14:11]>> I don't understand the charges. I don't stand under the charges if that's what we're talking about. I do not stand under these charges.

[00:14:17]>> I'm willing to hold you in contempt and we can uh handle this again tomorrow.

[00:14:20]Okay. So, what I will do, Mr. Aligretti, is find that you've unduly delayed these proceedings.

[00:14:26]>> All I want to find you in direct contempt of court >> for your continual continuous delay of the proceedings. I'll sentence you to a day in the Porter County Jail for your >> I have a job.

[00:14:38]>> Please take Mr. Aliggretti into custody.

[00:14:45]>> We'll try again tomorrow, sir.

[00:14:48]>> Yeah.

[00:14:49]>> As the hearing continued, the judge repeatedly asked direct questions, explained the relevant legal standards, and gave the defendant several opportunities to clarify their position.

[00:15:01]Despite those efforts, the discussion continued to return to issues the court believed had already been addressed.

[00:15:07]From the court's perspective, the repeated exchanges began to raise concerns about whether the hearing was making meaningful progress. Judges have broad authority to manage courtroom proceedings efficiently while ensuring that every participant has an opportunity to be heard. When a hearing becomes repetitive, the court may decide that it is time to move the proceedings forward. By this stage, the focus had shifted from explaining legal concepts to determining how the case