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- Joshua Erskine, 36, faces felony charges accusing him of threatening a Utah Highway Patrol trooper.
- He allegedly sent a 28-page document threatening harm and demanding money from a trooper.
- Erskine claims not to need a license, citing his status as a "free man."
ST. GEORGE — A man charged with several traffic violations is now facing more serious charges accusing him of threatening the Utah Highway Patrol and the trooper who pulled him over.
Joshua James Erskine, 36, was charged Thursday in 5th District Court with extortion or bribery to dismiss a criminal proceeding, a second-degree felony; and retaliation against a witness, a third-degree felony.
Erskine was pulled over in December for a vehicle registration violation. The trooper asked him for his driver's license, registration and proof of insurance.
"Mr. Erskine provided (the trooper) with a U.S. passport, and told (the trooper) that he did not need a driver's license because he was a free man," according to charging documents.
The trooper then ran a background check on Erskine and discovered he "had an expired driver's license, no insurance on his vehicle and canceled vehicle registration," the charges allege. Erskine was issued a citation and later charged with a class C misdemeanor and three infractions for not having registration, a valid license or a license plate.
Following the traffic stop, Erskine "began to make threats of retaliation," the charges state.
"Mr. Erskine sent a 28-page document that was first sent to the UHP office in Hurricane and then to the home of (the trooper). Mr. Erskine threatened (the trooper) which is outlined in this 28-page document, that he would place a lien on his home if he was not given what he demanded, which Mr. Erskine indicated was a large sum of money," charging documents say. "Mr. Erskine gave an ultimatum and a deadline for his demands to be met and his intent to follow through on his threats if they were not met."
Erskine also faces similar charges after being pulled over again in February. Two days after those charges were filed, Erskine sent an email to Washington County Justice Court stating, "Your offer to contract is not accepted! As a living man on the land who has attained the age of majority, I do not have valid contracts with the state," according to court records.
He allegedly sent a similar email to the court when his December charges were filed.
"This offer to contract is not accepted while traveling in private in my private automobile. I am considering this an attempt to conspire to deprive me of my rights under color of law," the email states, according to court records.
