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French 'Sovereign Citizen' Sentenced to Suspended Prison Term Over Police Check Refusal

Pierre L., who gained attention for his viral video rejecting state authority, was sentenced to five months of suspended prison time after a trial in Dunkerque.

«Je ne contracte pas avec vous ! »: l’interpellation lunaire d’un couple de conspirationnistes
Un homme doit comparaître mardi 1er avril à Dunkerque (Nord) pour avoir refusé de se soumettre à un contrôle de gendarmerie. (Illustration)
Pierre L., 53 ans, a écopé de 5 mois de prison avec sursis au tribunal de Dunkerque ce 1er avril 2025.
Pierre et Laëtitia Legrand, au tribunal de Dunkerque (Nord), le 1<sup>er</sup> avril 2025.

Overview

  • Pierre L., a proponent of the 'sovereign citizens' movement, was sentenced to five months of suspended prison time by the Tribunal judiciaire de Dunkerque on April 1, 2025.
  • The case stemmed from a 2024 incident where Pierre L. refused a police check in Esquelbecq, citing pseudo-legal theories that reject state authority.
  • A video of the incident, in which Pierre L. and his partner repeatedly stated 'we do not contract' before police broke their car window, went viral online.
  • In court, Pierre L. continued to reject the court's authority, claiming he was appearing as a 'legal personality' rather than a 'living being.'
  • The trial has reignited discussions about the spread of conspiracy theories, fueled by social media, and their impact on public trust in institutions.