Wednesday, March 11, 2009

No Man Is a Country

Well, we've all heard that no man is an island, and according to a Pennsylvania judge an individual isn't sovereign either.

Get a load of this dude.
Shackled and handcuffed, Scott A. Witmer, 44, of Allen Township went on trial for drunken driving, a day after he claimed the court lacked jurisdiction because he is a "sovereign man" who lives within himself, and not Pennsylvania.

On Tuesday, Northampton County Judge Leonard Zito increased Witmer's bail after he made his claim of sovereignty, leading to him spending the night in prison. Witmer on Wednesday offered clarification to his remarks.

"Doesn't all our souls reside inside ourselves?" he said, motioning toward his chest. "Isn't here where we really exist?"

"Your metaphysical properties aren't on trial here," Zito interrupted. "What is on trial here is Scott Allen Witmer."

State Police Trooper Pasquale Russo of the Bethlehem barracks testified he responded to Witmer's 309 Adams St. home for a domestic violence call due to an argument between Witmer and his girlfriend of the time.

Russo said a clearly intoxicated Witmer was belligerent, had trouble standing and continued to drink rum and coke from a mug while troopers were there. Before he left, Russo said, he warned Witmer not to drive.

Russo said he and his partner were parked and doing paperwork when Witmer drove by them less than 10 minutes later. He said Witmer ignored a stop sign, failed to use his turn signals, and crossed the center line four times.

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