From Deseret News archives:
Senator targets abuse of liens
Prosecutors and law enforcement representatives told lawmakers Tuesday that anti-government groups are abusing personal property lien laws on cars, bank accounts, etc., because there's no criminal penalty for doing so.
Abuse of liens by countergovernment groups prompted the Legislature in the late 1980s to pass stiff penalties for bogus liens placed on real property such as homes.
"This has messed up the credit ratings for judges and prosecutors," said Sen. Beverly Evans, R-Altamont, who is sponsoring SB47, a proposal to make bogus liens a felony offense.
Ken Wallentine, who represents various state law enforcement officer associations, said he faced a $68 million lien placed by a group calling itself the Wampanoag Indian tribe.
Although named after the tribe of Indians that first met the Pilgrims, Wallentine said this group has nothing to do with the current, federally recognized Wampanoag tribe based out of Connecticut.
"It's nothing more than a scare tactic," Wallentine said.
Deputy Attorney General Michael Wims told the Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Standing Committee that a person's credit rating can be smeared by a lien. Unlike real property liens, which are filed in court, personal property liens are filed to the state Department of Commerce. The liens are published and picked up by credit bureaus without question.
Deputy Uintah County Attorney Ed Peterson said the Wampanoag group, which has also called itself the "City of Zarahemla," has been a point of frustration for law enforcement. "They issue their own drivers' licenses," Peterson said, resulting in charges of driving without a license against some of them plus vehicle impounds.
"I like to refer to them as selective anarchists," Peterson said.
The group's leader, David Stevens, is best known for holding a sheriff's deputy at gunpoint for two hours after the deputy tried to serve Stevens with papers notifying him of failing to pay back taxes, Peterson said.
"Now I've got a group of people, who are fully Caucasian, who now consider themselves an Indian tribe," Peterson said.
Committee forwarded the bill unanimously to the Senate floor.
Peterson said he hopes the change in law will put an end to the group's tactics. "If it doesn't then we'll have a very specific law that we will arrest them on," he said.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com
Comments
- 4A: Springville 29, Dixie 21 11:12 p.m.
- ESPN suddenly loves MWC 11:10 p.m.
- 3A: Juan Diego 35, Wasatch 14 11:04 p.m.
- Utah manufacturers going lean 10:57 p.m.
- Feds to seize 4 Iran-linked mosques 10:55 p.m.
- Utes face stiff test in opener 10:54 p.m.
- Hasan is charged with murder 10:53 p.m.
- 4A: Turnovers doomed Mustangs 10:51 p.m.
- World datelines 10:50 p.m.
- Iran's N-site for military use? 10:49 p.m.
- SLC council OKs gay rights policies
318 - TCU showdown has big implications
195 - Senators want food tax restored
158 - Editorial: Mormons and gay rights
142 - Will state consider gay rights law?
137 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - Letters: Strange breed in Utah
119 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
119 - Utes remain silent about BCS
112 - S.L. vote pending on gay protections
110
Maybe someone out there can help me understand how raising the state...
Sen. Scott Jenkins was name-checked by Jay Leno Monday night during his...
Any win from the Wong era is an asterisk win -not a tv or mc fan
Utah has the team they deserve.
Just to clarify, Warren Buffet does not pay less in taxes than his secretary....
one of the most fun timpview games i've seen
Banks get our money to bail them out and we get the shaft again.
Of course BYU is the best, if you are mormon. Outside of being mormon it is...
Why can't Obama use this same "thoughtfulness" and patience on health care....
Tv be careful with the trash talk. Remember all th smack talk mc did and now...
Didn't seem to me that DSB was disparaging the lawyer because he didn't like...
My history teacher at Woods Cross High School Kevin Rigby's father also flew...



You can be the first to comment on this story.