Squatter calls judge a traitor, ousted

Kicked from court after outburst

Accused squatter Tabitha Gentry was bounced from the courtroom only minutes into a hearing Wednesday after she accused the judge of treason, demanded her case be dis- missed and refused to stop talking as she was charged with contempt and led out of the courtroom.

Gentry, who is accused of aggravated assault against police officers and squatting in a vacant $3 million mansion, says she is a citizen of the Moorish American National Republic and does not acknowledge the au- thority of the court nor the state of Tennessee.

When she appeared before Judge James Lammey, Gentry insisted her case be dismissed, saying that “any judge who acts like he has jurisdiction when he doesn’t is committing treason.”

There has already been much controversy in her case as Gentry, who also goes by the name Abka Re Bey, has insisted on representing herself despite outbursts of what Lammey called legal “jibberish” in previous hearings.

Gentry is being held on aggravated assault charges, accused of striking two officers with her car as she drove away during a traffic stop in October. She is also charged with aggravated burglary, theft over $60,000 and grand larceny for squatting in Tabitha Gentry

the East Memphis home at 600 Shady Grove.

She continued to tell Lammey that he was committing treason until the judge, who was visibly agitated, ordered her removed from the court- room.

When Lammey told her she would be given 10 days’ jail time for contempt of court, she replied, “I’m already in jail,” as she was led out the door in handcuffs.

Talking to attorneys after Gentry left, Lammey said he was considering having Gentry bound and gagged at her next hearing or using a shock bracelet to keep her from interrupting proceedings.

“This is on the verge of being ridiculous,” he said, adding that he may soon decide she has forfeited the right to represent herself in court. “I am not going to put up with this anymore.”