Transgender cult leader linked to border agent killing maintains innocence, asks for vegan food in jail

During the hearing, LaSota said at another point that releasing him on bail "may be a matter of survival if I don't get vegan food. . . . I haven't done anything wrong. I shouldn't be here."

He continued, saying that he might be in a "mild state of delusion" due to a lack of vegan options in the Allegany County Detention Center and that he is not a flight risk since he is homeless.

LaSota and his affiliates face multiple charges, including trespassing and possession of a handgun. Their arrests brought attention to the "Zizian" cult - a group of radical young people who mostly identify as transgender, who are known for their affinity for veganism and their link to violent killings.

The Zizians' violence was most recently linked to the Jan. 20 killing of Vermont Border Patrol Agent David Christopher Maland, 44.

"It's important to note Mr. LaSota has ties to Alaska, California, Vermont, [and] Pennsylvania at this point that the state is aware of," he said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to LaSota's public defender in Maryland, Rebecca Francoeur-Breeden.

Prosecutors in Vermont have charged one of LaSota's associates, Teresa Youngblut, 21, in connection with a shootout that left Maland dead.

Zajko is also a "person of interest" in the 2022 deaths of her parents, Richard and Rita Zajko, in Media, Pa. No one has been charged in their killings, according to authorities. 

WATCH: Cult expert says 'Zizian' fringe group tied to killing of US border agent uses behavior control 

The group exhibits cult behavior, according to Dar Dixon, an actor and the podcast host of "The Art of Being Dar," who shared his cult expertise with Fox News Digital. 

"The thing that I noticed about this 'Zizian' cult is that it hits all the major points that will set somebody up to be involved in it. You've got transgender human beings, alright? You're dealing with sexuality. You're dealing with sexual identity, and you're dealing with sex. Anytime you do all those things, you've already got someone, as they say, by the tight and curlies," he said. 

"I'm sure there was a lot of sleep deprivation going on, also, which affects your thoughts, which affects your emotions, which also affects your behavior and your ability to take in and process information," he said.

"This is part of the emotional control. You're never allowed to feel your feelings or to discuss your feelings. If you don't step in line with the party line, you're immediately reprimanded, sometimes severely, either verbally or physically, or you're shunned."

"So, the culmination of sexual identity, food restriction, sleep restriction and emotional restriction, well, now I've got you," he said. "I own you. And I can take you any direction I want to take you now."