It's amazing how many Brown supporters are in need of psych evaluations...
'Son of Israel' claims Brown home for God
Unidentified man on property now in jail
By Mark Davis
Valley News
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 17, 2008 - 12:00 am
Ed and Elaine Brown may be in federal prison, but their Plainfield home remains an attraction for those with views outside the mainstream.
A bearded man dressed in white and identifying himself as "Son of Man" and "Son of Israel" was arrested at the Browns' home Sunday night after he broke into the home to claim it for his religion, the House of Israel, according to court documents.
The man, who resembles descriptions of a mysterious spiritual adviser who visited the Browns last year during their eight-month standoff with authorities, was arraigned yesterday in Claremont District Court, where he refused to enter pleas, talk to his court-appointed attorney or recognize the judge's authority. Instead, he insisted on the absolute power of God's word before being led back to the Sullivan County House of Corrections, where he will stay until a psychiatrist evaluates him. A hearing was scheduled for August.
Court documents give the following account:
An ADT alarm installed on the Browns' home by the U.S. Marshal's Service activated about 10:30 p.m. Sunday. Federal authorities have controlled the property since October, when agents arrested the Browns on charges of failing to pay federal income taxes.
Plainfield Police Chief Gordon Gillens arrived on the scene a few minutes after the alarm activated and found a "U.S. No Trespassing" sign at the entrance to the property replaced by a hand-painted sign reading "the house of prayer."
Gillens saw the man, identified as Israel Sonneosman in court documents, on the front porch, where an air mattress had been made up for a bed.
Sonneosman insisted he could not be arrested, because the house was the Lord's property and he was the appointed caretaker.
Gillens arrested him on misdemeanor charges of criminal mischief, trespass and attempted theft.
The man had unlocked a door to the Browns' main house and pried off a lock on an outbuilding on the Brown compound.
Sonneosman was found with two March airline tickets from Aloha Airlines from Honolulu to California and on to a destination that was not legible. The plane tickets read "SonneIsrael" and "Sonneosman Israel."
The man also was found with receipts from the West Lebanon Wal-Mart for a bicycle and vegetable seeds, according to court documents. He refused to be fingerprinted or to give his hometown, age or any other information.
While he was in jail, the Plainfield police received a phone call from someone who identified himself as "The Lord's Body" and a priest of the House of Israel. The caller said the man had called him from prison. The caller confirmed for police that the Brown home was the property of the Lord but did not give his name or location, according to court documents.