A man who claimed he was immune to prosecution because he is a “sovereign citizen” was convicted of rape and child molestation and sentenced to life in prison, the Fulton County District Attorney said.
Chadrus Brown, 40, of Atlanta, who served as his own attorney, was convicted of rape, aggravated sodomy and child molestation for sexual assaulting a 9-year-old girl, DA Paul Howard’s office said. Brown was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences, plus 60 years in prison, without parole following his conviction.
In December 2012, Brown fondled and then raped the girl after forcing her to sleep in a bed alone with him, according to prosecutors. The victim told relatives about the attack and was taken to a hospital for care. Brown was arrested after DNA evidence linked him to the attack, the DA said.
Brown claimed the victim was lying and that he had done nothing wrong. In pre-trial motions, he argued he was immune from prosecution and that all charges against him should be dropped because he is a “sovereign citizen” and is not bound by any form of government or constitution, according to the DA. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shawn LaGrua, who presided over the case, denied Brown’s motion and proceeded to trial.
Brown is a convicted felon who was serving his third time in state prison at the time of his recent trial, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections. He has previously been convicted of theft, forgery and terroristic threats and acts, records showed.
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