Erik Konrad Ehrlin, 33, of Greenleaf, Idaho was investigated for vandalism on government property in March 2021. The vandalism included markings of “SAI” which refers to the Sovereign Alliance of Idaho. Authorities say the vandalism included threats to federal employees. These included: vows “to shoot on sight government employees and warned “Death will result upon 1st fine issued.”
They identified Mr. Ehrlin as the suspect and was able to obtain a search warrant for his residence. During their search, they uncovered a journal that contained a “Sovereign Citizens Oath” along with multiple firearms.
Mr. Ehrlin had been previously convicted of sexual abuse in the first degree in Oregon and was not legally allowed to possess firearms. He faces 10 years in federal prison for the firearms charge and one year for the assault. He will be sentenced on May 31, 2022.
Here is a link to his sex offender profile.
Here is a link to the police showing the “SAI” graffiti and explaining how the Sovereign Alliance of Idaho is not a thing.
Update: This article provides more context and information about the crime.
Aug 2, 2022 Update: Erhlin received 6.5 years at a hearing in federal court Monday. In this latest article, they noted that they found the following in his possession: “items to impersonate a police officer, zip ties, a balaclava face mask, and high-capacity magazines. He also had bullets with individual targets written on them in red marker, including “DIE McLean,” “FUCK BLM” and “FUCK FEDS.”
His lawyer noted that he was evaluated by a mental health professional who diagnosed him with a delusional mental health disorder. He told the court that he remembers being blackmailed by sheriff’s deputies who forced him to commit the crimes he had been found guilty for.
Most sovereigns are not mentally ill. The rates of mental illness tend to be on par with the general public. There is not enough information available about this case in the news to determine if mental illness played a role and if so, to what degree.
He said in court that “…he is struggling with the possibility of a diagnosis of suffering delusions. He said the memory of being pulled over by Canyon County Sheriff’s Deputies, phone calls to his place of employment, letters in his mailboxes, and instructions to commit these crimes under the threat of blackmail is “as real to me as the birth of my son.”
The latter portion “as real to me as the birth of my son” is pretty telling and could suggest that he is legitimately suffering with delusions. Truly delusional people often do not or cannot admit that they have delusions, often because it is a frightening experience. Delusions feel very real to the people who experience them. He adds “I do not just think maybe I was stopped by Canyon County Sheriff’s Deputies and blackmailed. I know I was. I can remember the emotion, the adrenaline. I can remember the complete and utter confusion of being asked to load and unload a magazine…”
The prosecution believes otherwise, that there is no evidence of mental illness.
This case would make for an interesting case study.
Courts docs and more information can be found here.