Controversial Life Tabernacle Church pastor Tony Spell talks Wednesday, May 13, 2020, just outside the front door of his residence behind the church. Judge Eboni Johnson-Rose rejected Central pastor Tony Spell’s attempt to throw out on 1st Amendment grounds Monday criminal charges that he violated Gov. John Bel Edwards’ emergency coronavirus orders last year. Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church, was charged last year with six counts of breaking strict public gathering capacity limits then in place in March during the earliest phase of a viral pandemic that has now killed more than 8,000 Louisiana residents. Despite the offenses carrying a $500 fine and jail time, Spell set up several showdowns with authorities when he continued to hold services that drew large crowds of worshippers at his church off Hooper Road. He welcomed media attention of that defiance and took the opportunities to criticize Edwards over the restrictions as an infringement on constitutional protections for the free exercise of religion. Spell, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, has separately challenged Edwards’ orders civilly in federal court but has not prevailed at the district or appellate level so far. That case remains on appeal. Spell did not attend […]
