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THE FREE SOVERIEGNTY OF THE OREGON WAY MOTOR COURT

October 20, 2005

A promising approach to fighting the IRS?

During a federal investigation, the Weatherses filed documents declaring their independence from the United States, rejecting any obligation to follow federal laws.

Um, no.

A Vancouver man who owns Longview rental properties and who tried to say he was not subject to U.S. laws has received a five-year federal prison sentence for tax evasion.

Thomas D. Weathers, 55, of Vancouver was sentenced Friday in Tacoma by U.S. District Court Judge Franklin D. Burgess.

Weathers and his wife, Kathy, owe more than $1.6 million in federal back taxes, interest and the cost of prosecution, spokeswoman Emily Langlie said in a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington.

The couple owns the Hudson Hotel and Oregon Way Motor Court in Longview, duplexes and single-family rental homes in Longview and Kelso, the Joyce Hotel and Kent Hotel in Portland, and rental properties in Vancouver, Ridgefield and Sunriver, Ore.

One hopes these properties have good on-site managers; they'll be on their own for awhile.

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