[narrator]
for an arraignment.
Thirty-four-year-old Richard Smith
has been charged with driving with a suspended license.
Mr. Smith, this charge is a misdemeanor,
and is punishable by 90 days in jail
and a thousand-dollar fine.
[narrator]
then reviews the defendants rights.
You have a right to be represented by a lawyer,
and if you cannot afford a lawyer, you have a right
to have one appointed for you at no expense.
[narrator]
But Smith, who's appearing today without a lawyer,
has got questions.
Do you have any questions about those rights?
I kind of, yes.
Uh, corpus delecti,
in this case is kind of, funky,
being the State of Washington.
Uh, seems to be... need to be a fictitious point that...
in a sense, I can't subpoena...
a plaintiff that doesn't exist as a person.
Well, we need to talk about a couple of things first
because... you're... what you're saying is gibberish.
You don't even know what corpus delecti is.
Corpus delecti, "produce the victim".
No. That's not what that means.
[Judge Steele] Here's the situation.
I'm gathering... it sounds to me like you might be,
kind of, dabbling in the Sovereign Citizens stuff.
[Smith] No.
[Judge Steele] Sure sounds like it.
[narrator]
that Judge Steele mentioned
refers to tactics employed by individuals
who, somehow believe the law is illegitimate
and answer only to their own interpretation of it.
[Judge Steele] Here's how it works.
Pay close attention.
Simply because the fact
there's a court identifiable victim
doesn't mean its behavior is not a crime.
[narrator]
Since the ticketing officer
did not provide enough information in his report.
The defendant simply needs to sign a document
agreeing to return.
[Smith] Am I gonna be penalized if I don't sign?
I'll have you thrown to jail if you don't.
-[Smith] All right. -That sound like a penalty?
[Smith] Okay.
Don't challenge the authority of the court.
[narrator]
signing the release.
But he adds a line about being under duress,
which irritates Judge Steele.
Let me see that.
[Smith]
Reprint the order.
[narrator]
and has a second one printed,
identical to the original.
Sign the order.
Just your name, nothing else.
[Smith] I can't.
-That's... -Just sign the order.
You are ordered to do so.
If you don't, it's contempt of court.
You're not under duress,
but you are under court orders to sign the order.
[narrator]
but defies the judge
and once again, adds his claims of duress.
Have a seat.
-You are in contempt of court. -[Smith] Okay.
Maximum penalty for contempt of court
is 30 days in jail and a 500-dollar fine.
I'd sign it with my rights reserved, and...
Signing this will not take anything away from you, sir.
As far as your rights.
Why do I have to sign it then?
[Judge Steele] Because I just told you to.
Because it gives you notice when your next court date is.
I'm gonna sign the... sign the order now.
You're gonna sign your name and nothing else.
Anything else, you're going to jail.
[narrator]
And Judge Steele purges the contempt charge.
Before things wrap up,
the judge has a final word of advice for Smith.
My suggestion to you would be,
that you should probably spend some time
having a brief consultation
or a longer consultation with a lawyer.
Straight enough to waste my time.
[Judge Steele] Sit down.
[ominous music playing]
[Judge Steele] I purged you on contempt,
I don't need to hear you throw a comment on your part
that this is a waste of your time.
I don't care if you even believe it,
and outside this court, you can say anything you want.
You can talk about how I'm the devil, I don't care.
You have a right to speak. Don't say a word.
But inside this court, you need to show respect for the court,
that means when you're directed to do something in court,
you're gonna do it.
-You're free to leave. -Okay.
Thank you, Your Honor.
[narrator]
There is currently a warrant out for his arrest.