Judge Finds Pastor’s Supporters Occupying Church in Contempt
A judge on Monday declared a jailed minister’s wife and seven other supporters in contempt of court for defying his order to end their occupation of a church where the pastor preached radical, pro-labor messages.
A group of about 10 backers of the Rev. D. Douglas Roth has vowed not to be removed from Trinity Lutheran Church in Clairton, where they have food, cots, baseball bats, gas masks and other supplies.
“They are subject to arrest,” Allegheny County Judge Emil E. Narick said. “We’ll bring them into court and cite them for contempt and impose . . . sanctions.”
Sheriff Eugene Coon, who was given a free hand by Narick in choosing when to make the arrests, has said he would not act Monday or today but rather “in my own time and in a peaceful manner.”
Roth began serving a 90-day jail sentence on Nov. 13.
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