People v.JENAN

Filed 3/23/07

CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

FIFTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Tulare County. Ronn M. Couillard and Valeriano Saucedo, Judges.

Richard M. Doctoroff, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.

Bill Lockyer and Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Attorneys General, Mary Jo Graves, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Charles A. French and Angelo S. Edralin, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

-ooOoo-

Alan Dale Jenan argues that the courts failure to follow established procedures to determine whether he was mentally competent requires reversal of the judgment.^[1] The Attorney General argues the contrary. We will reverse the judgment.

DISCUSSION

On May 10, 2004, the district attorney filed a complaint charging Alan with offering a false or forged instrument for filing ( 115, subd. (a)^[2]) on December 9, 2003 (count 1) and with sending a threatening letter with intent to extort ( 523) on January 20, 2004 (count 2), charging Alan and Roger with sending a threatening letter with intent to extort ( 523) on January 24, 2004 (count 3), charging Alan with offering a false or forged instrument for filing ( 115, subd. (a)) on February 18, 2004 (count 4), and charging Roger with sending a threatening letter with intent to extort ( 523) on March 30, 2004 (count 5).

On June 8, 2004, the Jenans appeared without counsel and waived time for arraignments. On July 6, 2004, the Jenans again appeared without counsel, the court proceeded with arraignments, and the Jenans pled not guilty.

On August 4, 2004, the Jenans again appeared without counsel, the court noted that one of the concerns is that you need to have a lawyer represent you unless you want to represent yourselves, and a dialogue ensued:^[3]

MR. ROGER JENAN: Your Honor, were here because we respect you as as a [sic] individual who has subscribed and sworn to an oath of the office to duly protect the people of this country, especially this state and this county. We respect that.

Now, you have information in front of you cause weve delivered it to you, a copy of the fact that there the dispute or controversy has been resolved privately outside of court.

The District Attorney now were just waiting for them to give you an order to dismiss the case because without the subject matter jurisdiction, which this court is absent totally of, you cant move forward. So we dont need an attorney. What would we do with an attorney? What would he do?

THE COURT: Well, he would defend you in this case and hopefully keep you out of prison.

Mr. Alan Jenan, is that your position, as well?

MR. ALAN JENAN: Your Honor, the court has no jurisdiction. The case has been abated.

THE COURT: Okay. That is your position.

MR. ALAN JENAN: And we have challenged the jurisdiction of this court.

THE COURT: Well, let me just interrupt you here. I have nothing filed with the court which has got a court stamp file on it that is in the file that Im responding to at this time because it hasnt been properly filed.

Now, you indicated something about the District Attorney has been contacted privately between yourselves and the District Attorneys Office to have this matter resolved.

MR. ROGER JENAN: Yes.

THE COURT: Let me ask the District Attorneys representative whether the District Attorney is inclined to dismiss this complaint or not?

[PROSECUTOR]: No, were not going to be dismissing the complaint.

THE COURT: Okay. That being the case, then were going to have to go forward.

MR. ROGER JENAN: Theres one other matter. Im not arguing anything.

THE COURT: Im not, either. Im just informing you.

MR. ROGER JENAN: You were you were delivered by mail and by hand delivery yesterday, I believe it was, or Monday, a copy. Of course, its not on file unless you put it there, but you have knowledge of the abatement, and I expect you to act on that knowledge.

THE COURT: Well, I dont have knowledge in the sense that its officially before the court because unless something is filed with the court clerk and a file stamp placed on it with the proper case number and the matter is also served upon the adversary, that being the District Attorney in this case, this court has nothing to respond to. You may deliver a thousand letters to the court, but that does not mean that they have any bearing on the case, itself.

Having informed the Jenans of the difference between delivering a letter and filing a document, the court asked if they wished to be represented by counsel:

[THE COURT]: Now, that being the case, the District Attorney has indicated they are not going to dismiss. So were going to have to proceed forward in the procedurally correct manner, and in order to get that procedurally correct manner underway, the first question is whether you have or want to be represented by an attorney.

So Mr. Roger Jenan, whats your situation in that; are you desirous of having an attorney represent you, and if so, do you have the money to hire one?

MR. ROGER JENAN: No, sir, I do not want to hire an attorney because that will make me a ward of the court and put me in your jurisdiction, and I do not intend in any way or any manner to confer, convey, or any other way give you jurisdiction over me or the subject matter.

THE COURT: So the bottom line of all that is that you are going to represent yourself.

MR. ROGER JENAN: If needed.

THE COURT: All right. Now, Mr. Alan Jenan, what is your position in that regard?

MR. ALAN JENAN: I agree with that, your Honor, because the case is a sham pleading, to start with

MR. ROGER JENAN: Dont argue the pleading.

MR. ALAN JENAN: that requires no answer from us.

THE COURT: All right.

MR. ALAN JENAN: We can enter no pleading to anything thats not there. Its the case has been abated.

THE COURT: All right. So youre going to be I guess the bottom line of that is youre going to represent yourself.

MR. ALAN JENAN: Your Honor, we may need assistance of counsel

THE COURT: Okay.

MR. ALAN JENAN: and we reserve the right to that assistance.

THE COURT: Now, you cant say we because you have to speak for yourself.

MR. ROGER JENAN: Dont reserve any rights.

THE COURT: Do you wish to have a counsel represent you?

MR. ALAN JENAN: Not at this time.

THE COURT: All right. So both of you are indicating that you dont want counsel at this time. So youll be proceeding pro per, as we call it, at this point in time.

After a brief dialogue with the prosecutor about the estimated 1,000 to 2,000 pages of discovery, the court addressed the issue of entry of pleas:

THE COURT: So were going to enter pleas of not guilty for both of you.

MR. ROGER JENAN: I dont agree to that, but you do what you have to do.

THE COURT: Well, I have to do it. Even if you refuse to enter a plea, the law requires I enter a plea of not guilty and then set the appropriate motions or set the dates down the road here, and you can file whatever motions you wish to file .

After the court and the prosecutor talked about finding consecutive dates for calendaring the preliminary hearing conference and the preliminary hearing around a pending death penalty case on the prosecutors calendar, the court engaged in a dialogue with Roger:

THE COURT: The 26th of August would be a preliminary hearing conference. That would be a conference wherein you come in, the District Attorney is here. We decide if the case can be disposed of in some fashion.

MR. ROGER JENAN: Okay.

THE COURT: If not, then we discuss whether or not the matter is ready to go forward for a preliminary hearing on the following day, following day being the 27th of August, which is the day well set for the preliminary hearing.

MR. ROGER JENAN: So on the 26th he could come in and dismiss the case?

THE COURT: Well, he could, but I wouldnt hold my breath.

MR. ROGER JENAN: Well, he owes us an awful lot of money, and hes caused you an awful lot of anguish, too, and expense to this court.

THE COURT: I have no anguish. I enjoy being up here.

MR. ROGER JENAN: But hes causing an unnecessary expense, and weve already sanctioned it. It might be something you want to consider, also.

THE COURT: Well take that all up at the appropriate time with the appropriate motions filed, but in the meantime, all parties are agreeable, this is going to be continued till the 26th of August for a preliminary hearing conference.

Once a problem with the availability of the prosecutors primary witness came to light, the court and the prosecutor discussed moving the preliminary hearing conference and the preliminary hearing to the following week, after which Roger spoke on behalf of Alan and himself:

MR. ROGER JENAN: I think that works for us. If something comes up, our medical condition or whatever, well let you know.

THE COURT: If you do have a problem being here, be sure you communicate with the court so that we dont issue any warrants.

MR. ROGER JENAN: There are times when I have a problem of doing anything.

THE COURT: Very well. Well see you on those days.

[PROSECUTOR]: And, your Honor, the Jenans have been informed that they have a right to counsel, and they are rejecting that right?

THE COURT: Yes, Ive told them, and theyve indicated at the moment, theyre going to represent themselves.

On August 22, 2004, Alan and Roger each executed notarized documents entitled deposition and truth affidavit. Each deposition identified the signatory as, respectively, alan dale; jenan a sovereign and roger lewis; jenan a sovereign. Each deposition, inter alia, cited Glass v. The Sloop Betsy,3 Dall 6 as authority for the proposition that each was a [s]overeign and as such [he was] not bound by general words in Statutes, restrictive of prerogative right, title or interest, unless expressly named. Here is the entire text of the cited opinion of the United States Supreme Court (Glass v. The Sloop Betsey (1794)3 U.S. 6, 16 [3 Dall 6, 9] (Jay, C.J.).):

The Judges being decidedly of opinion, that every District Court in the United States, possesses all the powers of a court of Admiralty, whether considered as an instance, or as a prize court, and that the plea of the aforesaid Appellee, Pierre Arcade Johannene, to the jurisdiction of the District Court of Maryland, is insufficient: THEREFORE IT IS CONSIDERED by the Supreme Court aforesaid, and now finally decreed and adjudged by the same, that the said plea be, and the same is hereby overruled and dismissed, and that the decree of the said District Court of Maryland, founded thereon, be, and the same is hereby revoked, reversed and annulled.

And the said Supreme Court being further clearly of opinion, that the District Court of Maryland aforesaid, has jurisdiction competent to enquire, and to decide, whether, in the present case, restitution ought to be made to the claimants, or either of them, in whole or in part (that is whether such restitution can be made consistently with the laws of nations and the treaties and laws of the United States) THEREFORE IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the said District Court of Maryland do proceed to determine upon the libel of the said Alexander S. Glass, and others, agreeably to law and right, the said plea to the jurisdiction of the said court, notwithstanding.

And the said Supreme Court being further of opinion, that no foreign power can of right institute, or erect, any court of judicature of any kind, within the jurisdiction of the United States, but such only as may be warranted by, and be in pursuance of treaties, IT IS THEREFORE DECREED AND ADJUDGED that the admiralty jurisdiction, which has been exercised in the United States by the Consuls of France, not being so warranted, is not of right.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED by the said Supreme Court, that this cause be, and it is hereby, remanded to the District Court, for the Maryland District, for a final decision, and that the several parties to the same do each pay their own costs.

Each deposition states, inter alia, that [n]o action can be taken against a sovereign in the non-constitutional courts of either the United States or the state courts, that any such action is considered the crime of Barratry, and that Barratry is an offense at common law, and cites State vs. Batson, 17 S.E. 2d 511, 512, 513. The cited case, inter alia, muses that [t]he crime of barratry seems to have had its origin in maritime law, notes that common barratry is the offence of frequently exciting and stirring up suits and quarrels between his majestys subjects, either at law or otherwise, and holds that the common-law offense of barratry, having never been the subject of legislation in North Carolina, and not being destructive nor repugnant to, nor inconsistent with, the form of government of the State, is in full force therein. (State v. Batson (N.C. 1941) 17 S.E.2d 511, 512.)

Each deposition states, inter alia, that since the Jenans gave the judge at the preliminary hearing firsthand knowledge and proof of the Abatement of the case for lack of Subject Matter jurisdiction he acted in violation of his Oaths by failing to protect and correct a known wrong, that he committed High Treason against the Jenans, each of whom, on the authority of 18 U.S.C. 112, is an internationally protected person, and that he committed Treason against the United States of America.

Each truth affidavit contains a preface:

Truth is expressed in the form of an Affidavit, and an Affidavit not rebutted stands as Truth. The undersigned sovereign, herein known as Affiant, a natural man, a living breathing soul, in correct capacity as beneficiary to the Original Jurisdiction, being of majority in age, having a sound mind, competent to testify, a self-realized entity, a free man upon the land, my yes be yes, my no be no, do state that the truths and facts herein are of firsthand knowledge, true, correct, complete, certain, and not misleading, so help me YHWH.

Each truth affidavit states, inter alia, that each of the Jenans is competent in this matter and competent to testify, that each reserves all of [his] rights, at all times, and waive[s] none of [his] rights at anytime, unless [he] explicitly state[s] otherwise, that each has expatriated form [sic] the United States, and that each is a Sovereign who is not bound by general words in Statutes, restrictive of prerogative right, title or interest, unless expressly named. Each truth affidavit states, inter alia, that the penalty for detainment of a sovereign is $75,000 an hour or $1.8 million a day until concluded.

On August 22, 2004, three other people executed notarized documents entitled affidavit, deposition, and truth affidavit, declaring, inter alia, that the judges who presided over the proceedings in Alans and Rogers case never addressed the issue of abatement.

On August 23, 2004, Alan and Roger jointly filed a document entitled Notice of Treasonous Acts and Opportunity to Correct the Record that charged the court with destroying the Judicial System from within by giving aid and comfort to enemies of the United States and that offered the opportunity to correct the record within five days by abating the case. As I am in Law and not at Law like you, the document concluded, I recommend you obtain lawful assistance.

On September 2, 2004, the Jenans again appeared without counsel and, after the court continued the preliminary hearing, jointly filed three documents signed by alan dale; jenan, sovereign and roger lewis; jenan, sovereign. The first document, entitled Notice of Default and Failure to Protect, states that after receipt of the document entitled Notice of Treasonous Acts and Opportunity to Correct the Record on August 23, 2004 the court again failed to act to protect and correct a known wrong against Alan Dale; Jenan a sovereign and Roger Lewis; Jenan a sovereign on 9-2-04:

Your record of a Treasonous act of 8-4-04 now stands as fact. Five people have witnessed your second Treasonous act of 9-2-04. This second act of treason shall also stand. [] Your failure to protect and correct a wrong has constituted further evidence of your overt acts. Should you recuses [sic] yourself without correcting the wrongs, it will be a new overt act adding additional charges of failing to protect and prevent.

The second document, entitled Notice of Intent to File Charges of Treason with the United States of America Supreme Court to be heard by Congress within 90 days, states:

Your failure to uphold your Oaths has caused this action to be taken. You are hereby notified to prepare for defending your self [sic] against the charges of Treason against the United States of America. The Supreme Court of the United States of America shall be notified of the action. They shall appoint a Public Prosecutor for this action. The Congress of the United States of America shall set the penalty for this action.

The third document, entitled Notice of Intent to File Charges of High Treason in the California Republic State Court Superior Court, Common Law Venue Original and Exclusive Jurisdiction united [sic] State [sic] of America, California Republic (Organic), states:

Your failure to uphold your Oaths has caused this action to be taken. You are hereby notified to prepare for defending yourself against the charges of High Treason against two sovereigns. The Superior Court of the California Republic shall be notified of the action.

On September 3, 2004, the Jenans appeared without counsel for preliminary hearing, the court called the matter, and a dialogue among the court, Alan, and Roger ensued:

THE COURT: Both Alan Dale and Roger Lewis Jenan, come up here to the counsel table.

MR. ROGER JENAN: Im Roger Lewis, making a special appearance, of the Jenan family. This is Alan Dale of the Jenan family. This is not a general appearance, its a special appearance.

DEFENDANT ALAN JENAN: I would like to remind the court we are still challenging jurisdiction.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: Were sovereigns. We expect you, under your oath, to protect us. We believe thats your duty.

THE COURT: Just have a seat.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: Theres one thing Id like to mention. I liked your tie yesterday much better than the one today. It was brilliant.

THE COURT: The one yesterday is for sale.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: It was brilliant.

THE COURT: Ill try to improve. We are here on this case, this is case 127005. Both defendants are present without counsel because, weve been through this before, you both indicated on a previous occasion that you had not hired counsel, did not request that the court appoint counsel at this point in time.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: We didnt testify to anything, your Honor.

THE COURT: Do you wish to have counsel appointed for you?

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: No, theres no case.

DEFENDANT ALAN JENAN: Not at this time, your Honor, because theres no case yet.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: We expect you, by your oath, to protect us.

DEFENDANT ALAN JENAN: Theres no reason to get an attorney.

The court ended the dialogue about representation, summarized the procedural history of the case and the pending charges, and asked if Alan and Roger understood:

[THE COURT:] Do both you gentlemen understand the nature of the charges?

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: Yes, I do. Theyve been abated.

THE COURT: Whether they have or havent

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: You have the information. They have been.

The court expressed concern about Alans and Rogers mental competence and lack of representation by counsel:

THE COURT: Let me go on the record with what my concern is. I know you are unrepresented by counsel. Under 1368 of the Penal Code, there is a concern that nobody in this state can be proceeded on or proceeded against in a criminal case if they, number one, do not understand the nature of the proceedings against them. I just want to verify that you both understand the nature of the charges. Whether you agree with them or not is not my concern at the moment. I want to make sure you both understand the nature of the proceedings, what these charges allege.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: What I do understand is that you just used the term this state. We are not in this state. We are sovereigns. We have expatriated. We do not come under your rules. Its up to you to protect us. Were holding you to that.

THE COURT: That doesnt answer my question. My question is, whether you are under this state or not, do you understand the nature of whats being charged against both of you?

DEFENDANT ALAN JENAN: Your honor, without

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: I believe if they are wrong, were not going to argue right or wrong.

THE COURT: I dont want to get to that. Do you understand the nature of the charge?

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: I dont stand under either.

THE COURT: I said do you understand?

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: That means stand under and we do not.

THE COURT: Let me are you Roger?

DEFENDANT ALAN JENAN: Im Alan. Without granting jurisdiction, which the court does not have, these charges are so totally phony. We cant understand any of them. It doesnt identify any victim. It doesnt identify anything.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: We dont want to go there. Get on with whatever you have to do.

THE COURT: Otherwise, Id have to remand you and have a 1368 proceeding

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: Just do

THE COURT: get involved in those type of proceedings.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: Do whatever you have to do. Well sit and watch it.

THE COURT: It wouldnt necessarily take place. [Addressing the prosecutor], are you ready to proceed?

[PROSECUTOR]: Im ready to proceed. The concern I had was the defendants ability to understand whats happening and to rationally assist in their defense in this case, rationally defend themselves. If the court is making a finding the court doesnt have concerns there, Im ready to proceed.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: If hes leading to evaluation thing, thats totally out of line.

THE COURT: Thats what Im trying to determine. I have an obligation

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: We understand enough to know what you are doing.

THE COURT: Same with you, Mr. Alan Jenan?

DEFENDANT ALAN JENAN: I think I do.

THE COURT: Then well proceed here. I do have to cover that one base because I want to make sure.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: I understand you have certain duties to do. Were watching, with witnesses. (Italics added.)

After the prosecutor put on his sole witness, a district attorneys investigator, the court asked the Jenans if either had any questions, and a dialogue ensued:

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: Theres no case to respond to. Im sorry, no.

THE COURT: I take that as a no. Alan Jenan, do you have any questions?

DEFENDANT ALAN JENAN: Your Honor, without granting jurisdiction to the court, I would like to remind the court of case number 01-79256. Thats it.

THE COURT: I dont know what that case is about.

DEFENDANT ROGER JENAN: This [sic] is no discussing this case.

THE COURT: Ill take it as a no, there is no cross-examination.

TO BE CONTINUED AS PART II..

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Judge Couillard presided over the preliminary hearing; Judge Saucedo presided over the trial.

^[1]In a companion case, People v. Roger Lewis Jenan (F048199), we adjudicate like arguments by his brother. On our own motion, we take judicial notice of the entire record in that case. (See Evid. Code, 459; see Wagner Farms, Inc. v. Modesto Irr. Dist. (2006) 145 Cal.App.4th 765, 768, fn. 3.) In each case, the court denied probation, imposed a prison term, and suspended execution of sentence for 5 years, which the court fixed as the term of formal probation. For brevity and clarity, later references to each brother are by first name only. No disrespect is intended. Later collective references to both brothers are by last name only. 

^[2]All statutory references are to the Penal Code unless otherwise noted.

^[3]In propia persona, Alan and Roger each acted, at times expressly, at other times implicitly, on behalf of himself and his brother as to interests that were never adverse to, but were always identical to, those of the other, so we construe the arguments, documents, and statements of each as those of both.