Self-proclaimed Freeman in jail

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This article was published 23/4/2015 (2628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A so-called Freeman on the Land is cooling his heels in jail after another encounter with the criminal justice system.

Scott Peters, 45, was convicted earlier this year of running a marijuana grow operation following a bizarre, three-day jury trial. He was given a 13-month conditional sentence last month that would allow him to remain free in the community.

But Winnipeg police arrested Peters days later after executing a warrant at his Boyd Avenue home. Investigators found him engaging in online Skype chats on his computer, which had data-elimination software. Police said they found adult pornography. Peters is alleged to have violated bail conditions placed on him following a 2012 arrest on child pornography offences. That case remains before the courts and he is presumed innocent.

The Crown moved to terminate Peters's conditional sentence on the drug conviction, saying he violated it by "failing to keep the peace and be of good behaviour." The Crown returned to court Wednesday, asking for the remainder of the penalty to be converted to jail time.

Peters is asking for another crack at freedom. Queen's Bench Justice Robert Dewar reserved his decision until next month. Peters remains in custody.

Unlike his jury trial, Peters was mostly silent on Wednesday. That's because he has hired a lawyer rather than represent himself.

During his earlier sentencing submissions following his conviction, Peters showed up to court waving a white flag. He told Dewar it was a sign of peace, not surrender, and vowed to fight his conviction in the Manitoba Court of Appeal.

"In the end, I have caused no harm," Peters told court. "I want to be a man of honour, to live my life in peace."

He called the judicial process "interference with a person's right to self-govern" and repeated his claims he is being unlawfully prosecuted.

"The government treats people as children and feels they must punish them," Peters said.

Police found 56 marijuana plants in the basement of Peters's North End home in 2012. In his closing argument at trial, Peters demanded to be allowed to face his accuser in court.

"It says here the Queen vs. Scott David Peters. Well, where is my accuser? Where is Her Majesty the Queen? Why isn't she on the stand?" Peters asked. "There is no case against me."

The question was one of many posed during a rambling, 100-minute closing argument in which Peters railed against the government and sounded off against fluoride in drinking water, the public school system and monosodium glutamate, among other things.

"No man's life, liberty or property are safe," Peters said at one point, quoting author Mark Twain.

"I have the right to use my property as I see fit. Nobody has the right to question anything."

www.mikeoncrime.com