Is this violin small enough? 
Posted on 5/1/2003, 2:59:18 PM by Cap'n Crunch
After more than nine hours of numbing testimony, a man who insisted on a jury trial for a minor traffic infraction was found guilty yesterday in Lorain Municipal Court.
John Diewald, 36, of Elyria, was convicted of driving under suspension.
His sentencing wont be until tomorrow, but Diewald already said he plans to appeal and "extend this as long as I can."
The sheriff's officer who pulled over Diewald last year said the trial was a waste of his time and the taxpayers' money.
"I've been here since 8:30 over a minor traffic violation," said Deputy Bryan Plemons in mid trial. "He's trying to prove his point."
Diewald, who identifies himself as The Rev. Chu Bbakka was stopped by Plemons in Sheffield Township on Sept. 28 for nonworking brake lights, according to a police report, and he failed to show a valid Ohio driver's license.
Instead, Plemons said, he pulled out a homemade "international driver's license" provided by his organization the Sovereign Nation of Earth.
Diewald testified yesterday in front of Judge Mark Mihok that his organization helps the homeless and he has no allegiance to "any geo-political entity."
"You cna't play be society's laws so you make up your own?" countered Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Szabo.
"Their society doesn't want me," Diewald said.
Diewald called several membes of his organization to the stand, including one of the "founding fathers" of the Sovereign Nation of Earth, James Bisso, and the secretary and treasurer of the nation, Mary Francis Cummings.
Plemons testified for the prosecution.
Szabo cross examined Bisso, asking him where the Sovereign Nation of Earth is located.
"According to Chewy, it encompasses the whole earth." Bisso said.
Szabo addressed Diewald and pointed out that he uses the services of the Elyria police and recieves Social Security checks from the United States.
Diewald admitted that he recieves checks because he has bipolar disorder and has relied on the Elyria police as "back up" because the Sovereign Nation of Earth has no jail.
"Bipolarism is not a defense for this charge," Szabo said. "He admitted he didn't have a valid driver's license."
Seven members of Diewalds organization sat on one side of the courtroom.
A few of them said Diewald took them in when they were homeless. "He opened his arms up. I didn't have a home. He feeds us," said Ginger Sommerfelt, a 20-year-old who lives in Diewald's "headquarters" on Adelbert Street in Elyria.
After deliberating for less than 30 minutes, the jury found Diewald guilty.
Diewald will be sentenced by Mihok at 2:30 p.m. tomorrow.
With this admission... charge him for the court costs!
...it's already been changed once, from "Alan Dershowitz."
Is this violin small enough?
O. B. Juan Kunnoby
Loox Kiy Walker
Hans O. Low
Prince S. Lay-ya
Art Too Deetoo
Seat Tree Peyo
Dar The Vayder
Jaww Bdahut
Diewald testified yesterday in front of Judge Mark Mihok that his organization helps the homeless and he has no allegiance to "any geo-political entity."
"You cna't play be society's laws so you make up your own?" countered Assistant Prosecutor Jeff Szabo.
"Their society doesn't want me," Diewald said.
Diewald called several membes of his organization to the stand, including one of the "founding fathers" of the Sovereign Nation of Earth, James Bisso, and the secretary and treasurer of the nation, Mary Francis Cummings.
Charter members of the Libertarian Party, no doubt.
And you gotta wonder what their FReeper screennames are......
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