A case out of Wisconsin today caught my interest involves a man named Sovereignty Sovereign who was found guilty by a jury of reckless homicide and six other charges. The article about the case is short and despite the name, doesn’t identify him as a sovereign citizen.
In doing some research about the case, I learned that his name is Joseph Helmueller, also known as Andrew Jacob Helmueller, Helmueller Sovereign Freeman, Sovereignty Joseph and Sovereign, Sovereignty Joseph Helmueller.
He was originally arrested with a man named Joseph Cameron in connection to the fatal shooting of 53-year-old Richard Rose in New Richmond on August 20, 2020. Mr. Cameron was sentenced to 13 years last September for his role in the shooting.
Sovereignty Sovereign faced additional charges as well: including, third-degree sexual assault, battery or threat to judge, prosecutor or law enforcement officer, resisting or obstructing officer, battery by prisoners, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, operating while revoked (presumably his license), possessing illegal articles, multiple counts of bail jumping, and possession of methamphetamine. He received a competency hearing and was deemed competent.
He was ultimately found guilty of first-degree reckless homicide, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, three counts of bail jumping and carrying a concealed weapon.
In the case notes, it indicated that he repeatedly refused to appear at court hearings, did not attend his trial and received the news of his guilty verdicts via a video feed in cell.
What’s most curious about this case is nowhere does it confirm that he is a sovereign citizen or that he has declared himself as such. Given his behavior, which is consistent with how some sovereign citizens behave in the courtroom, as well as his name and his various aliases, this strongly suggests that he is a sovereign citizen.
It does not get more sovereign than “Sovereignty Sovereign.”
Continuing to research this case and will report back if more information is acquired.
UPDATE: April 2, 2022. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison for the fatal shooting.