Man With Ties to Domestic Terrorist Group Charged With Threatening Judge

Michael Rinderle, 29, of Waukesha, was charged with threats to a public servant and 28 counts of harassment, according to Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk, Voorhees Township Police Chief Louis Bordi, Winslow Township Police Chief Robert Stimelski, the New Jersey Treasury Office of Criminal Investigations and the New Jersey State Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.

Rinderle faces a similar felony charge in Waukesha County after being accused of harassing a Muskego judge over Rinderle's suspended driver's license, according to Living Lake Country. He was convicted of threatening to injure or accuse an official of crime and was sentenced to 60 days in jail on March 6. However, Rinderle was given credit for 47 days time served.

Rinderle allegedly became enraged with a Voorhees Township Municipal Court Judge due to traffic offenses filed against his common-law wife, Joann Ellis. Rinderle allegedly sent the judge an e-mail on Sept. 26 threatening to “financially ruin” the judge if charges against Ellis weren’t dropped. The judge ignored the request.

Rinderle allegedly filed fraudulent commercial liens against the judge and 27 other public officials in Voorhees, Winslow Township and communities in Burlington and Gloucester counties. This is including court staff and police personnel.

Rinderle identifies with the Sovereign Citizen movement, whose members advocate recognizing only common law and argue federal, state and municipal codes have no authority over them. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation lists the Sovereign Citizen Movement as an extremist domestic terrorist threat. 

Sovereign Citizens attempt to use bureaucratic processes to engage in “paper terrorism.” Sovereign Citizens commonly use the type of fraudulent commercial liens filed by Rinderle as a form of  harassment, officials said.

The liens were filed without supporting evidence of a debt and can damage the credit rating of the victims. It is a criminal act to file a false lien against another person.

Rinderle was charged April 1 and Wisconsin authorities have been made aware of the charges against him.

Also contributing: Sarah Millard