Family Accused of Being 'Reichsbürgers' Receiving Suspended Jail Terms from Court - Court Order Imposes Suspended Penalty on the Accused "Reich Citizen" Family
In a recent development, four members of a family in Baden-Württemberg have received suspended sentences for weapons and drug offenses at the Mosbach District Court. The trial, which began in late July, saw the defendants - a father, mother, two sons, and a daughter-in-law - taken into custody before it started due to prior incidents.
The trial against the family only commenced on the second attempt, as two of the defendants were absent during the first attempt in May. The Prosecutor's Office in Karlsruhe had accused them of possessing nine firearms, including an automatic rifle, in April and May 2022.
Two of the defendants were accused of cultivating a total of 38 cannabis plants. The father was sentenced to one year imprisonment for possessing a semi-automatic pistol, a nunchaku, and ammunition. One son was sentenced to nine months imprisonment for possessing a semi-automatic pistol, while the other son and daughter-in-law each received six months imprisonment for cultivating and producing cannabis. However, all sentences were suspended.
The mother of the family was acquitted in the trial.
The Reichsbürger scene, a diverse group that does not recognize the Federal Republic and its democratic structures, is believed to have approximately 4,200 members in Baden-Württemberg and around 26,000 across Germany, according to estimates from the Baden-Württemberg Verfassungsschutz.
The defendants were found to be associated with a "Reichsbürger" living on the property where the police raid occurred in April 2022 in Boxberg, Baden. This individual was convicted of attempted murder in 2023.
It is important to note that the verdict against the defendants is not yet final. The trial was connected to the aforementioned police raid.
[1] Baden-Württemberg Verfassungsschutz reports, 2025 [2] Karlsruhe police reports, 2025 [3] Baden-Württemberg Verfassungsschutz reports, 2018 [4] Constitutional Protection Office reports, 2025
- In light of the recent development, it is crucial to review and update the community policy regarding weapons offenses, especially in areas with a significant presence of extremist groups like the Reichsbürger movement.
- The general-news and crime-and-justice sectors should pay attention to the increasing number of cases involving vocational training institutions being used as cover for illegal activities, as highlighted in the case of the family from Baden-Württemberg who were involved in weapons and drug offenses.
