Jailed 'sovereign citizen' owes Middletown big bucks for illegal work. What happens now?

Jo Ciavaglia, Bucks County Courier Times
·3 min read
19

Middletown officials will be monitoring what happens at the property of an anti-government "sovereign citizen" sentenced last month to decades in state prison.

While Curtis Smith is now serving 28 to 56 years in state prison on weapons convictions, he is not off the hook for thousands of dollars owed to Middletown for the illegal improvements he made to his Langhorne-Yardley Road property, officials said.

Before his conviction and sentence, Smith, 43, owed more than $58,000 in fines and fees to the township for failing to remedy illegal improvements at the two-acre property he purchased in 2022. He also must pay the township for the work it did demolishing and dismantling some of the illegal work done there.

Smith considers himself a sovereign citizen meaning he does not believe any government entity has jurisdiction over him or his property, and laws do not apply to him.

The unauthorized work at his property ultimately led to his arrest last year for illegal possession of weapons, ammunition and body armor. Smith is a twice convicted felon, which bars him from owning weapons.  He represented himself in the jury trial.

Here is what is happening at the property in the 500 block of Langhorne-Yardley Road and what Middletown plans moving forward.

An aerial view of Curtis Smith's property at 596 Langhorne-Yardley Road in Middletown, prior to him moving in. The position of the house gives a tactical advantage to anyone seeking to deter police from approaching the property, police said.
An aerial view of Curtis Smith's property at 596 Langhorne-Yardley Road in Middletown, prior to him moving in. The position of the house gives a tactical advantage to anyone seeking to deter police from approaching the property, police said.

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What improvements has Middletown Township removed?

A cinder-block garage-like structure was demolished in early March, the township also removed a stamped concrete driveway and part of a vinyl fence, according to Township Manager Stephanie Teoli Kuhls.

Any debris left will be addressed through the township’s property maintenance code.

Demotion underway of a large cinderblock garage built without permits on the Langhorne-Yardley Road property owned by Curtis G. Smith. Middletown license and inspection department was forced to raze the building on March 5, 2024.
Demotion underway of a large cinderblock garage built without permits on the Langhorne-Yardley Road property owned by Curtis G. Smith. Middletown license and inspection department was forced to raze the building on March 5, 2024.

What about the other illegal improvements Smith made to the property?

At this time, the township does not intend to remove any other improvements, Teoli Kuhls said.  Those improvements include a home addition, retaining wall, concrete patio and a shed-like structure.

How much does Curtis Smith owe the township for demolition at his home.

The cost of the demolition was $22,000, Teoli Kuhls said.

How will the township be reimbursed for the money Smith owes?

The township has started taking steps to put a lien against the property for the work completed to date, Teoli Kuhls said.

Since Curtis Smith is in prison, who is responsible for maintaining his home?

The short answer is Curtis Smith.

Last year, after losing another court case with Middletown, Smith transferred ownership of the home to the C.G.S.J Trust, according to county records. But as far as the township knows Smith is also C.G.S.J Trust, according to Teoli Kuhls.

Middletown will continue to monitor the property for maintenance concerns and any code violations will be addressed, she said. At this point it is unclear if the property is occupied, though Teoli Kuhls said it is her understanding that friends and family have access to the home and are potentially monitoring the property.

The township would follow appropriate protocol, sending certified correspondence and posting the property, she added.  What happens next is based upon whether the notice is acted upon.

A view of a massive stamped concrete driveway at the Middletown home of Curtis G. Smith who constructed it last year without permits. Middletown will demolish and remove it, officials said.
A view of a massive stamped concrete driveway at the Middletown home of Curtis G. Smith who constructed it last year without permits. Middletown will demolish and remove it, officials said.

Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Who will maintain Middletown property of jailed sovereign citizen?