Judge Drops Charge Against Secretary in Church’s Alleged Zone Violations
Charges were dismissed Wednesday against a church secretary who had been on trial along with the pastor for alleged violations of zoning laws involving an encampment for the homeless on church grounds.
The Rev. Wiley Drake, pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church, continues to face five misdemeanor charges in Fullerton Municipal Court. But Judge Greg L. Prickett dismissed the same charges Wednesday against Vondel Mumaw, 61, because of insufficient evidence, said Buena Park Assistant City Atty. Gregory Palmer.
Palmer said he had decided to charge Mumaw because, in researching case law, he found that “a secretary could be held liable for the criminal acts of a corporation even if she had nothing to do with those acts.”
“The judge disagreed, and I’m delighted that the charges against Mrs. Mumaw were dropped,” Palmer said.
Attorney Jon Alexander, who is representing Drake, said Mumaw’s duties mostly consisted of collecting and recording church donations.
Her “only crime was counting the offering plate on Sundays and recording it,” Alexander said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
