No Holiday Limit on Church’s Homeless

The Rev. Wiley S. Drake, who was convicted of illegally sheltering homeless people, will be allowed to open his church doors to an unlimited number of needy individuals during the holiday season, a judge said Monday.

Fullerton Municipal Judge Gregg L. Prickett made his ruling at a probation “progress hearing” to monitor operations at the First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park.

Church leaders had agreed to limit the number of homeless people to 52 while they worked on plans for a permanent homeless shelter.

But on Monday, Assistant City Prosecutor Gregory Palmer said that 75 to 80 homeless people were staying at the church as of last week.

Jon Alexander, the attorney for Drake and the church, acknowledged that up to 72 people are now at the site. Alexander said the church did not want to turn away homeless people, especially during the cold holiday season.

Prickett agreed it would improper to throw the homeless out into the “streets and underpasses” during the holiday season, according to Alexander.

“The judge has been very decent and understanding,” Alexander said after the ruling.

The city’s prosecutor did not object to the judge’s decision.

Attorneys said they will return to court Jan. 5, when the number of people sheltered by the church is expected to be down to 52.

A Municipal Court jury in July found Drake and the church guilty of four misdemeanor counts related to using a makeshift patio structure and nearby camp area to shelter the homeless.