Ohio Pastor Faces Jail Time For Opening Church Up To Homeless 24/7
A pastor who continues to provide emergency shelter to the homeless in his community has been found guilty of a fire code violation and was handed a 60-day suspended jail sentence, along with a $200 fine, according to a press release by his lawyers, First Liberty:
Pastor Chris Avell of Dad’s Place Church in Bryan, Ohio was found guilty of a criminal charge regarding a fire code violation filed against him by city officials. The year-long battle with the City of Bryan that has continuously attempted to shut down the church, Dad’s Place, resulted in a conviction for the caring pastor.
Dad’s Place is a church in northwest Ohio that operates 24-hours a day to serve the most vulnerable in its community. For over a year, the City of Bryan, Ohio has been aggressively attacking the church in court, including alleged zoning violations, middle-of-the-night fire inspections, police antagonism, and even criminal charges filed against the church’s pastor. And while city officials demand the church install an expensive fire suppression system, the city does not require all of its motels, most of its apartment complexes, and even a senior living facility to install fire suppression systems in their buildings.
Following the guilty verdict, the judge stayed his decision for 30 days, allowing enough time for Avell’s attorneys to appeal. If the Pastor Avness continues to invite the homeless in, however, that sentence will no longer be suspended.
Ryan Gardner, Counsel for First Liberty, slammed the guilty verdict, saying:
“No pastor in America, including Pastor Chris Avell, should be pronounced guilty for providing temporary shelter to those in desperate need. Only government officials could say with a straight face that people are safer in the sub-zero temperatures on the street than inside the warmth of a church.”
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