Sovereign Citizen Walks Into Court Smiling... Judge Delivers a Reality Check!

[00:00:00]This courtroom hearing took a dramatic turn when a tenant admitted that he had lied to the judge during a previous appearance.

[00:00:06]While he claimed fear and personal struggles influenced his decision, he continued insisting that he had been illegally locked out of his apartment.

[00:00:14]However, the landlord presented text messages and video evidence showing that the tenant had actually accepted money to voluntarily surrender the property and had been given extra time to remove his belongings.

[00:00:26]As the contradictions piled up, even the tenant's own attorney moved to withdraw from the case after discovering he had been misled.

[00:00:34]Frustrated by the repeated interruptions and changing stories, the judge ultimately ruled that no illegal lockout had occurred.

[00:00:41]The landlord was granted full possession of the property, the tenant's case was dismissed, and the hearing ended with a strict warning to leave the courtroom without saying another word.

[00:00:51]>> What I didn't know, when they locked when they let me into my place, I didn't have a place, so I took them I took the money.

[00:00:57]>> Both said the money?

[00:00:59]>> I >> Both said?

[00:01:01]>> I took money cuz I had no place to go.

[00:01:04]And I didn't know what to do.

[00:01:06]And I had many cases and I was out on the street, I had no family or friends.

[00:01:09]And he kept pressuring me to move out so he could get someone else to move in.

[00:01:13]And he kept sending me emails and texts >> [snorts] >> that my my um security deposit was going down. I really didn't know what to do.

[00:01:23]And being [clears throat] not able to get back to my place where my stuff is, I was scared, man.

[00:01:28]I truly was. And I didn't want to admit that I was afraid or anything like that.

[00:01:32]You know what I'm saying? I don't want to make you seem like I'm weak or something like that. I thought that that makes you seem like I'm weak by not being honest. And I apologize. Please forgive me.

[00:01:40]>> So, he voluntarily So, you voluntarily surrendered the apartment?

[00:01:44]>> No.

[00:01:45]No. I didn't surrender the apartment.

[00:01:48]No. I couldn't get back in. They had already locked the doors. I couldn't get in.

[00:01:52]I couldn't get in.

[00:01:54]They're standing there. I couldn't get in.

[00:01:56]>> So, what are you claiming you lied about? I accepted the $400.

[00:02:01]>> Which Which $400?

[00:02:03]>> There's only one.

[00:02:04]>> Well, no.

[00:02:06]My understanding is there's two $400.

[00:02:08]>> That's what they're trying to say.

[00:02:09]>> Okay, so which $400 did you lie about?

[00:02:13]>> A corner video that they have showing him giving me a $400. There's video.

[00:02:18]>> From Mr. McLaughlin's agent.

[00:02:20]>> Yeah.

[00:02:21]>> You took that $400.

[00:02:23]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, they gave me on the bottom of the stairs and they gave it to me.

[00:02:27]>> Okay.

[00:02:28]>> I didn't want it, you know, but >> But well, hold on a second. Hold on, Mr. Daniels. So, you took that $400 and that was the $400 where you agreed to surrender the unit.

[00:02:40]>> No.

[00:02:41]I didn't agree to surrender anything.

[00:02:42]>> Then why were you getting Then why were you getting the $400?

[00:02:46]>> He told me Joseph, Gerald, listen, you might as well, you know, and take the statement.

[00:02:52]And I agreed with him, you know, cuz the gentleman was helping me.

[00:02:55]And I'm like, I'm not signing anything.

[00:02:57]That's wrong. He's like, yeah.

[00:02:59]He said, I don't want you to sign it. I don't want you to sign >> So >> I was right.

[00:03:03]>> Daniels >> Yes, sir.

[00:03:05]>> There's this meeting that takes place.

[00:03:08]>> Yes, sir.

[00:03:08]>> You're given $400.

[00:03:11]>> Yes, sir.

[00:03:12]>> Why did they give you the $400 if it wasn't to relinquish possession of the >> I wasn't relinquishing possession.

[00:03:20]>> Okay. I never Then did Okay. All right.

[00:03:23]Then why did you take the $400?

[00:03:28]>> I didn't know what to do. I had no place to >> What do you mean you didn't know what to do?

[00:03:31]>> no place to go.

[00:03:33]And I don't want to stay on the streets and >> Mr. Mr. Daniel >> Yes, sir.

[00:03:38]>> What you're saying it doesn't make any sense.

[00:03:41]>> I made a mistake.

[00:03:41]>> So, Mr. You need to start telling the truth.

[00:03:46]>> I didn't know >> So, Mr. >> I took it because I didn't know how to place to go. I didn't have the money to get food to eat. I had medications that I had to have.

[00:03:57]>> Mr. Daniel, you had a place.

[00:04:01]They said, "So, here's what you told me."

[00:04:04]>> The door was locked.

[00:04:06]I was locked out. I didn't have keys to the place.

[00:04:11]The locks were changed.

[00:04:13]I had no way of getting in.

[00:04:18]And if you if you show the video properly, even the front door The front door was boarded shut. It was X'd crossed with wood.

[00:04:26]I couldn't get in. The locks were changed and all that.

[00:04:30]I come around to the back and they're there standing at the back door and I'm like, "Listen, let me in."

[00:04:35]And I go, and I No, it's like I I had got scared, you know, and it's like I No excuse.

[00:04:45]Um I deal with a lot of mental illnesses, mental things and um I thought that they all wanted to get me anyway. They had broken into my home while staying there and I The tenants that stayed there, I told them to get out of the waffle. He's like, "So, what do you want me to do?"

[00:05:01]And I was afraid, honestly. But I do want I was afraid that they do I was afraid that I would react in a way that I wasn't supposed to.

[00:05:09]I didn't know what to do, honestly.

[00:05:12]I didn't.

[00:05:13]Truly believe I didn't know what to do.

[00:05:17]And not thinking properly and uh thinking that I would be uh smarter than them. Uh accepting it and still coming and reporting this stuff for what they've done.

[00:05:31]Uh That's why I called.

[00:05:37]I didn't, truly.

[00:05:40]Um At time, you know, everything was happening. I was I was panicking.

[00:05:48]Panicking.

[00:05:49]Didn't want to go through it. Didn't want to go on the streets. Didn't know what was happening. And they gave me they offered money and I I said, "Okay."

[00:05:56]I thought I was being smart.

[00:06:00]Um to uh I apologize.

[00:06:07]I was just very scared. Thought I was I was finally going to be able to come here and tell what they were doing to me that was wrong. So, I I'm sorry I locked out.

[00:06:17]The locks were already changed. I thought just I was right again. I apologize.

[00:06:22]>> Mr. Daniels, what do you want me to do now that it's been determined Well, you've admitted that you lied.

[00:06:30]>> Um I was already in there as as I stated.

[00:06:33]The locks had already been changed. I was locked out. I wanted to be treated fairly, done right. But I me myself I could not do to myself like they did.

[00:06:42]>> Well, that's interesting you want to be treated fairly because >> I treated myself >> Well, >> I thought >> frankly very frankly this isn't about you because you came here on the date the hearing was set. Mr. McLaughlin was not here.

[00:06:57]You told me they had locked you out, said you could not get back in your >> Yes.

[00:07:03]>> premises.

[00:07:04]>> Yes.

[00:07:05]>> And all of that, right?

[00:07:07]>> Yes.

[00:07:08]>> That basically he had resorted to self-help.

[00:07:12]>> Yes.

[00:07:13]>> What that led the court to do was to then set but now I understand why Mr. McLaughlin was here because you had surrendered the apartment.

[00:07:22]>> No.

[00:07:23]The locks were already locked. The locks were already changed.

[00:07:25]The locks were already changed.

[00:07:28]>> So, then I show cause Mr. McLaughlin to come in. He files an answer. He files a response.

[00:07:35]>> Yes.

[00:07:37]>> We are back here. You go and get legal services.

[00:07:40]>> Yes.

[00:07:41]>> Mr. Henry appears.

[00:07:44]>> And at that hearing you continued to maintain that you were locked out.

[00:07:49]>> Yes, sir.

[00:07:50]>> And specifically told me that you didn't take the $400.

[00:07:53]>> I lied.

[00:07:54]>> Oh, I know.

[00:07:56]We get that you lied.

[00:08:01]But that you didn't take the $400. That they locked you out. That then there wasn't this period in time afterwards.

[00:08:09]>> Yes.

[00:08:11]>> That's why community mental health because of that to put you up. So other money's got paid on your behalf.

[00:08:20]>> Yes.

[00:08:22]They did change the locks on the door, you know. I couldn't get in.

[00:08:25]The locks are changed.

[00:08:26]I couldn't get in.

[00:08:28]>> Tell me why I should believe you.

[00:08:30]>> Um truly, your honor.

[00:08:32]I lied.

[00:08:33]I lied. First time I came here, you shouldn't >> I shouldn't believe anything you are telling me. I do not believe.

[00:08:42]>> I understand.

[00:08:43]I understand, but I couldn't go on uh after you know, sit back praying and thinking about it. You've been honest with me. You've been fair with me all the time.

[00:08:52]And I couldn't >> What I do?

[00:08:53]>> tell you no lies. I had to come tell you today and let you know that.

[00:08:57]Um I was just afraid, you know. I was.

[00:09:00]>> Afraid of what?

[00:09:02]>> I don't know. Everything.

[00:09:04]I was locked out and the locks are changed already when they gave me the money.

[00:09:11]They're already changed. I'm locked out.

[00:09:13]And I thought I was finished. I don't know.

[00:09:17]I'm supposed to tell you something.

[00:09:19]I won't say anything else to you, but that might save me. What else am I going to say?

[00:09:23]But I was being honest, you know. I I'm just Now I am.

[00:09:26]I lied to you.

[00:09:27]>> You know something? Not only did you lie to me, you recall at the last hearing I had my bailor put Mr. McLaughlin under oath. and we'll put you under oath.

[00:09:39]>> Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

[00:09:42]>> Mr. McLaughlin maintained the same story that he basically put in his written communication what he had said. He didn't have everything with him. He said he had a video and wanted to make sure that he could bring it next week.

[00:09:53]>> has not been honest.

[00:09:55]>> Oh. Oh.

[00:09:57]>> Every time I called other people trying to I was trying to move out of Mr. McLaughlin's place because I didn't like it there.

[00:10:01]>> You surrendered possession. You surrendered possession of the premises.

[00:10:05]Yes, you did.

[00:10:07]>> Yes, you did. That's why you took the $400.

[00:10:10]>> Your honor, as I said, the doors of the locker are changed but they didn't give me that.

[00:10:14]The locker had changed.

[00:10:15]>> I don't believe you.

[00:10:17]>> I know you wouldn't. That's why I had to tell you the truth. The locker had changed.

[00:10:21]>> You know something, Mr. >> Mr. Harris is gone.

[00:10:23]>> Be quiet.

[00:10:27]>> Pardon?

[00:10:28]>> Be quiet.

[00:10:36]You lied to this court when you came here, caused me to file an order to show cause, got Mr. McLaughlin, and Mr. McLaughlin had to file an answer to it, find all of that information, do all of that. You go to legal services, they in good faith, Mr. Henry decides to represent you because you're saying that you've been locked out of the premises.

[00:10:59]We get here I for the second time that you've been here. Mr. McLaughlin was only here that one time. But we all get here, put you under oath, you give me your story, the story you give me you lied. Now, in that same time, you are also lying to Community Mental Health who is paying to put you up as though you had been locked out.

[00:11:25]>> I was. It was a >> You were not locked out.

[00:11:27]>> locked out.

[00:11:28]>> No.

[00:11:28]>> I was. I'm sworn in. When he gave me that he show the video I go upstairs. I'm beating on the door to get in.

[00:11:36]And I said the gentleman give me $40.

[00:11:39]The locks already changed.

[00:11:41]>> If that were the truth >> Yeah.

[00:11:44]>> then why wouldn't you have told me that you got the $400?

[00:11:48]>> I took it.

[00:11:49]You know, that's why I had no place to go.

[00:11:50]>> Why wouldn't >> I was I had no I I had I apologize. I had no no excuse.

[00:11:58]I had no excuse.

[00:11:59]>> Your story just keeps changing. Your story keeps changing.

[00:12:04]>> I was living on the street and I had no place to go and stuff that I didn't have and I had no place to go and had no family or friends. That's why I've been lying. I had no place to go.

[00:12:12]As you showed the video, I come up to the door and I knocked. So then my friend changed They've already changed the locks.

[00:12:19]The locks have already changed.

[00:12:21]And that gentleman come down and give me $40.

[00:12:25]The locks have already changed on the door.

[00:12:27]>> [snorts] >> I couldn't get in.

[00:12:29]>> All right, you tell me everything you want to tell me.

[00:12:32]>> That's all I have.

[00:12:32]>> Cuz I don't want you to ever say I didn't give you a chance to tell me.

[00:12:36]>> I told you everything.

[00:12:37]And the locks have already changed on the door.

[00:12:39]And he came down and gave me $40, sir.

[00:12:42]>> And I don't believe >> And I took it.

[00:12:44]>> And I don't believe you. I think that what happened here is you took the $400, voluntarily moved, which also then makes sense with what Mr. McLaughlin was saying and what he has been writing that he agreed You know what? I am not going to sit here and try to over talk you because if you keep interrupting me, if you keep interrupting me, you're going to be going with my bailiff.

[00:13:12]Am I clear?

[00:13:13]>> Yes, sir.

[00:13:14]Yes, sir.

[00:13:17]I'm not an aggressive person, you should know.

[00:13:19]I'm not being that way.

[00:13:23]>> [clears throat] >> I'll leave if you want me to.

[00:13:31]Sorry.

[00:13:33]The reason you took the $400 is because you voluntarily surrendered the premises. That's what the court's going to find.

[00:13:40]That you did that.

[00:13:42]And that you The court also believes that you took the additional $400 that was later on given to you. It all makes sense.

[00:13:52]That's why Mr. McLaughlin said, "I will keep" and he It's in writing in a text that he would allow your property to stay there for a month.

[00:14:03]And then he gave you more money.

[00:14:08]And you're just taking money and then coming to court, causing everybody all kinds of problems.

[00:14:17]>> I know I didn't.

[00:14:19]>> Oh, no, you don't even have any idea.

[00:14:22]>> I took the box.

[00:14:24]Sorry.

[00:14:26]>> You keep interrupting me, so I'm done.

[00:14:29]>> I didn't interrupt you. I was talking.

[00:14:30]>> I find that there was no lockout.

[00:14:33]I also find that he voluntarily surrendered the premises, Mr. Henry. I know this is embarrassing for you because you came here representing your client believing that all of this had happened.

[00:14:45]I find you and have found you always to be an honorable attorney and always put faith good faith arguments, and you properly did the right thing once you determined your client was an absolute liar. And that is you filed your motion to withdraw. So, prior to entering what I'm entering, I'm going to grant your motion to withdraw.

[00:15:05]Find that it's surrendered. This case is dismissed, but you are entitled to possession of the premises.

[00:15:13]>> You get it?

[00:15:14]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:15:15]It's yours. He gave it up.

[00:15:17]>> Thank you.

[00:15:20]>> You want to know what? You keep it up.

[00:15:23]What did I tell you?

[00:15:26]You think I'm kidding?

[00:15:28]Do you think I'm kidding?

[00:15:32]Then I suggest what you do is you turn around and you walk out and don't say another word to me because if you say another word to me, you're going to go with officer Mahalek.

[00:15:49]Have a great day.

[00:15:51]>> In the end, the judge ruled that no illegal lockout had occurred and found that the tenant had voluntarily surrendered the property after accepting payment from the landlord.

[00:16:00]The evidence presented in court directly contradicted the tenant's claims and ultimately undermined his credibility.

[00:16:07]Even his own attorney chose to withdraw after learning he had been misled.

[00:16:12]With the facts clearly established, the court granted the landlord full possession of the property and dismissed the tenant's case.

[00:16:20]The hearing concluded with a firm warning from the judge, reminding everyone that honesty and credible evidence are essential in any courtroom proceeding.