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‘Sovereign citizen’ who plotted to kidnap cops gets probation

Man was sentenced to five years’ probation after pleading guilty to a felony conspiracy to kidnap police officers charge

Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — A man who renounced his adherence to a sovereign citizen philosophy was sentenced in Las Vegas to five years’ probation after pleading guilty to a felony conspiracy to kidnap police officers charge.

David Allen Brutsche apologized to a judge and spoke for nearly 20 minutes at his sentencing Monday.

The 43-year-old Brutsche says sitting in isolation in jail has given him a lot of time to think. He has been in jail since August and will be eligible for release in about six weeks.

Brutsche previously espoused an extremist anti-authority theory that people can declare themselves sovereign and outside the bounds of federal and local legal constraints.

Brutsche pleaded guilty in January to a misdemeanor conspiracy charge in one case.

He pleaded guilty in February to the felony conspiracy to kidnap charge.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press