Jury Still Out in Church Shelter Case
A jury deliberated for about six hours Friday but failed to decide whether the Rev. Wiley S. Drake violated city zoning laws when he allowed the homeless to seek shelter at his church.
Jurors had about half a dozen questions for Judge Gregg L. Prickett before adjourning Friday without reaching verdicts on any of the five counts against the pastor of the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park.
Outside of court, attorneys on both sides declined to discuss the subject of the questions.
Drake, who led the Southern Baptist Convention’s boycott against Walt Disney Co. earlier this summer, was charged with misdemeanor code violations. If convicted, he could face a maximum of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.
The prosecution is also seeking a court order forcing the church to cease all activities that violate city codes.
The result would be that dozens of homeless men, women and children who live around the church would be forced to find another place to stay.
Jurors will resume deliberations 9 a.m. Monday in Municipal Court in Fullerton.
One woman who could not return next week because of a scheduling conflict was dismissed Friday and replaced by an alternate juror. There are now seven women and five men on the jury.
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.
