Clark County successfully sells troubled property

Third time’s the charm when it comes to Clark County trying to sell a troubled property at auction.

The 4.7-acre Amboy property belongs to anti-government activist David Darby, who owed the county more than $25,000 in back property taxes. He refused to pay taxes on the grounds that his status as a “sovereign citizen” with a land patent made him exempt.

Darby and other followers of the sovereign citizen movement say they’re answerable only to a specific interpretation of common law and do not recognize most forms of taxation. Darby disputes the state’s authority to allow local jurisdictions to collect property taxes.

The county received a high bid of $52,445 on Tuesday, during its third online auction for the property. High bidders for the two previous auctions declined to close deals with the county.

John Payne, the county’s deputy treasurer, said the bidder made a payment to the Clark County Treasurer’s Office on Wednesday, and the office is now putting the finishing touches on the sale.

The county has until Oct. 16 to issue a deed to the purchaser, at which time the sale will close.

The property’s new owner will also have to sign an excise tax affidavit, which Payne said he was confident would happen.

Darby has said he doesn’t plan to move from his property and plans to fight a legal ruling allowing the treasurer’s office to sell his property without his consent.

As for a potential new lawsuit, Payne said the office would have to wait and see what happens.

“We’ll have to let the courts do their due diligence,” he said.