Sovereign Citizen Claims Fail as Judge Holds Wedding Venue Owner in Contempt

(KNSI) – A St. Joseph-area wedding venue owner who argued state and county laws don’t apply to him has been found in contempt of court, and Stearns County is warning anyone who booked “The Hay Shed” that their event could be shut down.

Judge Laura Moehrle found Aloysius Studniski in civil contempt in an order signed Monday. Studniski has told county officials he isn’t a U.S. citizen, is tax exempt and doesn’t have to follow state or county laws. In an August ruling, Moehrle rejected what she described as sovereign-citizen claims, citing court decisions stating that the argument has no legal basis.

The new order allows the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office to go onto the property at 36271 County Road 2 in St. Wendel Township and break up any events. The county will also post signs saying the venue can’t be used.

The county says Studniski has been charging couples and others to rent a building that was permitted as an agricultural shed, without getting the permits required of commercial event venues. The county says it warned him when the shed was approved that it could only be used for storage unless he got more permits, and it ordered him to stop hosting events in December 2024.

Moehrle ordered Studniski on August 6th to stop using the property as an event venue until he followed the rules. At a contempt hearing last week, a sheriff’s sergeant testified four events have been held there since then. At one, a deputy counted 100 to 200 vehicles. At another, on August 29th, a guest asked a deputy parked near the road for directions to the wedding.

Studniski testified the gatherings were private, invitation-only religious ceremonies. The judge didn’t find that believable, writing that members of the public are booking the property for their own events.

Under the new order, Studniski will be fined $5,000 for every event he hosts from here on. He must also tell everyone with an event already scheduled about the order, and he can’t book any more.

By October 6th, Studniski has two options. He can apply for a conditional use permit and get the other required approvals, including a driveway permit, a stormwater plan and a letter from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Or he can stop running a venue, remove the driveway and hard surfaces near the building and return the area to farmland. If he does neither, he could be fined $5,000, plus $5,000 for every week he stays out of compliance.

Studniski will also have to pay the county’s cost of enforcing the order. That money can be placed as a lien on the land or added to his property taxes.

County officials say Studniski continues to claim he’s in compliance and that events can go on. They say he is not, and any further events will be shut down. People with questions can contact Chief Deputy Dan Miller at the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office.

A review hearing is set for October 16th at 1:30 p.m. at the Stearns County Courthouse. It could be moved up if the court learns Studniski is still hosting events.

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