MACOMB — An Abingdon man arrested on June 20 now has a significant bond amount following his appearance in front of a district court judge.

According to Sheriff Rick VanBrooker, Daniel Stevenson, 40, of Abingdon finally complied with completing the booking process on Friday — about three days after first entering McDonough County Jail and claiming to be a “sovereign citizen.” Following his refusal to comply with the booking process, he appeared before Judge Heidi Benson on the charges.

The sheriff’s office states that during his appearance, Stevenson interrupted the judge and state’s attorney a number of times. In the end, Stevenson was given a $100,000 bail for charges of resisting/obstructing a police officer, driving while license suspended and no valid registration.

Stevenson needs 10 percent — $10,000 — to post bond.

Up until Friday, Stevenson refused to be photographed or have his fingerprints taken for booking records. He was arrested following a traffic stop after a deputy noticed Stevenson’s Ford Escape did not have legitimate license plates. The homemade plates were constructed of poster board and had “Not for hire” and “private property” written on them with marker. Stevenson refused to roll down his window or identify himself to deputies. He eventually surrendered to deputies after the back window of his vehicle was broken.

Stevenson has maintained that he is a “sovereign citizen,” thus not bound by the laws and taxes of the land. Such status is not recognized, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations has classified some individuals and the movement as a form of domestic terrorism in line with eco-terrorists and some factions of the militia movement. More organized sovereign citizen collectives have committed mortgage fraud and counterfeiting, as well as disrupting court proceedings and placing liens against judges.

VanBrooker said people taken into custody cannot be released until they have completed the booking process, or a judge has issued a court order instructing the jail to omit the process.

VanBrooker said it’s rare for one to refuse to complete the booking process. In those cases, three days has been the average before they finally submit.

Inmates also cannot be forced to take medication. Jail staff can use force to get fingerprints only with a court order from a judge. The majority of people who refuse to comply when first arrested are often intoxicated. Once sobering up the next day, they usually pose for a mugshot and voluntarily give their fingerprints.

In Stevenson’s case, his submission came after requesting a mattress for his sleeping area. Although deputies and jail staff cannot use force to get an inmate to comply without a court order, items considered comforts — such as a mattress — may be withheld.



Reach Jared DuBach by email at jdubach@mcdonoughvoice.com.