DUI Arrest Causes Man to Claim He is a Country

By Gerri L. Elder

If you have been arrested for DUI, you need a good defense strategy. Claiming to be a country probably isn't one.

Scott Allan Witmer, 44, was arrested for DUI in Easton, Pennsylvania this week. From jail, he decided to declare sovereignty and become his own country. Without the help of a lawyer, he managed to file paperwork - claiming sovereignty - with the court in Northampton County.

Witmer's bold move is an attempt to deny Pennsylvania courts’ jurisdiction over him. However, this cunning plan may have backfired. The judge who examined the sovereignty claim has decided Witmer cannot be released from jail until he undergoes a mental exam.

At a hearing on the matter, Witmer represented himself. He cleverly explained to the court that there was no victim of his alleged crime, and furthermore, he lives inside himself and not in Pennsylvania, therefore the state's laws do not apply to him. He then asked to go to trial, apparently with full belief in his sturdy defense. The judge's decision to order a psychiatric evaluation comes as no surprise.

James Connell, a local defense attorney, is on standby to defend Witmer. At the moment, Witmer does not wish to be represented by a lawyer. However, he could change his mind before going to trial.