Sovereign citizen evicted from Decatur home

A sovereign citizen was evicted from his Decatur home on Friday after not paying property... — A sovereign citizen was evicted from his Decatur home on Friday after not paying property taxes in the last five years.

DECATUR, AL (WAFF) - A man identifying himself as a sovereign citizen was put out of his Decatur home on Friday, months after his eviction was ordered.

Morgan County Sheriff's deputies went to the home on Cloverdale Avenue to oversee the eviction and to keep the peace.

Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin said Hewlett Quillen refused to pay property taxes for the past five years, ever since he inherited the house from his mother.

According to Franklin, Quillen had not paid the taxes due to his rights as a sovereign citizen.

Sovereign citizens are individuals who believe federal, state and local governments operate illegally and therefore do not pay taxes, according to the FBI.

Sheriff Franklin said Quillen's delinquent property tax payments led the Morgan County tax assessor to seize the home and put it up for auction.

In 2007, Adrian Wray bought the home in the tax sale. He said he did not know the prior owner of the house was a sovereign citizen.

After Wray purchased the home, he said Quillen was allowed to continue living in the house under the condition that he pays rent. He said he never received rent payments so he had the court order Quillen's eviction.

Sheriff Franklin said Quillen was not arrested during the eviction process.

"All we did was execute a lawful order of the courts, which has an eviction notice that has been filed, and he has had a day in court," said Sheriff Franklin.

Movers on Friday removed Quillen's furniture and belongings to the sidewalk. Deputies also found about 20 firearms in the house, which they kept in their custody until the move was finished.

Deputies said Quillen planned to leave the home peacefully.

Quillen said he planned to take legal action regarding the eviction.