Todd James Dent pleads guilty in Noosa court after claiming sovereignty

A Noosa magistrate has warned a defendant to “stay away from everyone carrying the Magna Carta” during his court appearance. Read the details.

A man who claimed sovereign citizenship and did not recognise the Magistrates Court jurisdiction has had a change of heart after two weeks behind bars.

Todd James Dent, 43, of Maroochydore, pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing dangerous drugs, one charge of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, one charge of possessing utensils or pipes and one charge of failing to appear when in the Noosa Magistrates Court on September 6, 2022.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist told Dent to “stay away from everyone carrying the Magna Carta” following the defendant’s last court appearance on August 23, 2022.

“We all remember what transpired last time we were talking, it was a complete refusal to engage in the process,” Mr Stjernqvist said.

“There’s some sort of contempt as were the fail to appear charges so you were sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.”

Todd James Dent after his last court appearance on August 23, 2022.

Police prosecutor Phillip Stephens said that on August 11, 2021, police went to Dent’s rental on Burtons Rd at Bridges to search it and found 37.09g of cannabis, three trips’ worth of LSD and a plastic bottle that had been made into a bong.

The police prosecutor said on October 29, 2021, Dent was charged with fail to appear.

The defendant told police he had a lot going on his life and forgot to attend court.

Sergeant Stephens said on August 12, 2022, police were patrolling near the Yandina United Soccer Club when they noticed the defendant in a vehicle and found Dent was under a warrant for arrest.

“The defendant stated he was writing to the courts and produced some form of literature which appeared to be in line of the position of what’s commonly known as a sovereign citizen or sovereignty ethos,” Sergeant Stephens said.

The sergeant said police arrested the defendant and also found a small amount of cannabis, a grinder and a tin.

Dent, who represented himself in court this week, said he had good community projects going on with regards to housing the homeless.

“I’d really just like to get back out there and get involved with those and bring them to light,” Dent said.

Mr Stjernqvist convicted and not further punished Dent on the fail to appear, fined him $700 and said the defendant would remain behind bars until his parole on September 20, 2022.

Convictions were recorded.