December 7th 2024.
The Free Land Holder Committee, a group known for trying to lay claim to 1,460 acres of public land in southwestern Colorado, has encountered some trouble this year. Despite owning a legitimate 180 acres of land in Montezuma County, the property owners failed to pay their taxes on time and a tax lien was sold at auction in November.
The 180 acres, located near Mancos and owned by the PJ Sunset P.L.P. Nevada Revocable Living Trust, is connected to Patrick Leroy Pipkin. Pipkin, who lives on the property, proudly identifies as an ambassador for the Free Land Holder Committee. However, the trust failed to pay $12,301.40 in property taxes on three 60-acre parcels, according to records at the Montezuma County Treasurer's Office.
Treasurer Ellen Black confirmed that the taxes were due in April and because they were not paid, a lien was sold at auction in November. The lien-holder's name has not been disclosed, but they must hold the lien for at least three years and earn 15% interest annually before they can force a property auction to recoup their money. Alternatively, they can hold the lien for up to 15 years to continue collecting interest if the taxes remain unpaid.
Black also mentioned that the trust could "cure" the debt by paying their back taxes and interest. This could potentially resolve the issue and prevent further action from the lien-holder.
Pipkin, along with two other men, purchased the 180 acres in 2020 at a courthouse auction after the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) forfeited its real estate holdings. The FLDS, a polygamist cult, lost its properties when their leader, Warren Jeffs, was imprisoned in Texas on rape charges. All three men have past ties to the FLDS church and have won settlements against Jeffs and the church after filing wrongful arrest lawsuits.
Although the previous ownership group, Blue Mountain Ranch LLC, had paid their taxes on time, Pipkin and his co-owners changed the name on the title to the P.J. Sunset P.L.P. trust last year. When asked about this, Black stated that they had paid their taxes before, but not under this name.
It is unclear if the two men who bought the land in 2020 with Pipkin are still co-owners. Attempts to reach them have been unsuccessful. In an interview in October, Pipkin told The Denver Post that he pays taxes despite not considering himself a citizen of the United States or recognizing the Montezuma County government. He claims to be a citizen of The United States of America Republic, using historical government documents and treaties to support his case.
Despite this, Pipkin also stated in October that he planned to pay the property taxes by November 7th, showing that he was aware of the tax lien sale. He emphasized that he and the Free Land Holders are not vigilantes or a crazy cult, but simply a group that respects the United States.
Efforts to reach Pipkin this week to discuss the tax lien sale have been unsuccessful. The U.S. government has also taken legal action against Pipkin and other members of the Free Land Holder Committee, suing them on November 26th over their claims to portions of the San Juan National Forest. The Department of Justice is seeking a court order to prevent the group from attempting to fence off the forest land again, as well as denying their claim to the Haller Deed Area.
The first court hearing for this case is scheduled for March 5th. The actions of the Free Land Holder Committee gained widespread attention in October when they built a barbed-wire fence around 1,460 acres in the Chicken Creek area of the San Juan National Forest. This sparked outrage among residents of the nearby town of Mancos, as the area is popular for outdoor recreation and is used for cattle grazing by local ranchers.
Despite pleas from the Montezuma County Sheriff to let the government handle the situation, people in Mancos took matters into their own hands and removed the fence, leaving the posts and coils of barbed wire for the Free Land Holders to retrieve. Shortly after, the Free Land Holder Committee posted public notices around Mancos announcing their plans to annex an even larger portion of the national forest if no one with a previous or superior claim contacts them by December 15th.
In response, the community formed the Chicken Creek Coalition, a grassroots group of cattlemen, horseback riders, hikers, bikers, and skiers, to oppose the actions of the Free Land Holder Committee. They have held public meetings and organized letter-writing campaigns to members of Congress, urging them to support public lands and to encourage the federal government to stand up to the Free Land Holder Committee.
In anticipation of another fence being built, the community is planning a celebration of public lands on December 15th at the Chicken Creek Nordic Ski Trailhead. This event will include music and hot drinks as the community comes together to celebrate and appreciate the beautiful landscape they share.
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