NARRATOR: Next, we're in Charleston,
West Virginia for a pretrial hearing.
Henry T. Elden is in the courtroom,
but he is refusing the magistrate's order
to come forward to the defendant's table.
That's right.
The judge called him thrice.
Elden is facing multiple charges, including
fraudulent official proceedings and fraudulent service
of indebtedness related to falsely
filing claims with the court.
Today, he's joined in the courtroom
by a friend who's recording the proceedings on his cell phone
and getting involved himself.
MAN: I'm a witness, OK.
OK, what I'm saying is he is present,
and he's chosen not to step up there.
He's asking not for an appointed lawyer.
He doesn't need an attorney.
I'm not acting.
I'm a witness.
This is an American national.
NARRATOR: "American national" is another nod
to the sovereign citizen movement
that both he and the defendant identify with.
Eventually, Elden does respond to the magistrate,
Ward Harshbarger, but still refuses to come forward.
HENRY ELDEN: We're all waiting for the court reporter to be--
Do it now.
NARRATOR: Seemingly getting more aggravated,
the magistrate turns to his courtroom
deputy for assistance.
Go ahead [inaudible]
NARRATOR: Elden finally gets up to the stand before the judge,
but it won't be for long.
You are going to be held in contempt.
All right, Mr. Elden, I need you stand up for me, please.
NARRATOR: But before the magistrate had the defendant
arrested and cuffed, he pulls a final move out
of every parent's playbook and counts to 3.
HENRY ELDEN: I would like to speak,
and I have information to present.
NARRATOR: Again, locked in a stalemate,
the magistrate decides to just get down to business.
HENRY ELDEN: I would like to see your oath of office,
I'd like to see your letter accepting and acknowledging
your office, and I would like to see the same
for the prosecuting attorney, and to know the names
of everyone in this room.
I need that before I understand what's going on, sir.
HENRY ELDEN: But I haven't made any plea nor should you--
All right.
HENRY ELDEN: I don't accept that.
[interposing voices]
NARRATOR: The court wouldn't confirm the details,
but according to Elden, he did not appear for his next court
hearing and was arrested on a bench warrant
and served two weeks in jail.
He also says the original fraudulent service
and fraudulent official proceedings
charges against him, were later dropped.