16 and faces two counts of violating the Public Health Act.
He initially shared a cell with another inmate but was removed due to the high-profile nature of his case, Erin Coates stated in an email.Įrin Coates said she is unable to visit him due to COVID-19 restrictions but has been able to speak with him during video calls.Ĭoates, the pastor of GraceLife Church in Edmonton, Alberta, was arrested for holding church services for three consecutive weeks after his church was ordered to close at the end of January for violating gathering and physical distancing restrictions.Ĭoates turned himself into the police on Feb. Provincial regulations restrict in-person attendance at churches to 15 per cent capacity and call for congregants to physically distance and wear masks.Canadian Pastor James Coates was recently moved to a general population cell after spending most of two weeks alone following his mid-February incarceration for refusing to comply with COVID-19 church restrictions.Ĭoates was quarantined for two weeks upon being arrested with only two 15-minute blocks per day outside of his jail cell, his wife told Christian news outlet FaithWire in a recent statement. Two weeks ago, the church itself was charged with violating health measures. Alberta Health Services said officials did not monitor the latest gathering. GraceLife has continued to hold weekend services while Coates has been in jail, including one this past weekend. "The court is aware that I'm contesting the legitimacy of that law but please, make no mistake. I'm simply here in obedience to Jesus Christ, and it's my obedience to Christ that has put me at odds with the law," said Coates. "I realized that's the way society is going to perceive what's happening here. The pastor, wearing an orange-and-black jumpsuit and taking a mask off his face, told the judge in a video conference that he wasn't trying to make a statement by not complying with his bail conditions. you don't get to make that decision for everyone else, and your decisions could have affected the health and safety of so many of your fellow citizens." 'I'm not a political revolutionary' "The shepherd ought to protect his flock," Champion said. "Members of that (church) were going out into the community in general," said the judge, who noted that Coates has referred to himself as a shepherd. The judge said that when the pastor was arrested, the spread of COVID-19 was a serious concern and services at the church could have been "super-spreaders" of the novel coronavirus. Jailed Alberta pastor should be able to lead services until his trial: lawyer.
Judge rules Alberta pastor accused of violating health orders to remain in jail."It is an issue when someone makes a decision that can affect the health and the lives of thousands of people."
Coates as well as proper deterrence for others that might feel that 'I can violate the directions of the chief medical officer of health and get $100 fine,"' Champion said. "I question whether $100 is a proper denunciation of the conduct of Mr.
#PASTOR JAMES COATES IN JAIL TRIAL#
The pastor is to go to trial in May on a count under Alberta's Public Health Act for holding services that allegedly broke a restriction on the size of gatherings.Ĭrown prosecutor Peter McKenzie and a defence lawyer with the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedom, a group representing the pastor, had suggested Coates be fined $100 for breaching the court undertaking. Provincial court Judge Jeffrey Champion agreed to drop all but one charge against Coates. However, a judge said the 35 days Coates had spent in custody would count as credit for the entire fine.Ĭoates was charged in February after officials said the church west of Edmonton had violated public-health measures meant to help contain the spread of COVID-19. James Coates of GraceLife Church pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching bail and was fined $1,500. An Alberta pastor who was kept in jail for violating a bail condition to comply with COVID-19 health orders was to be freed Monday without conditions.
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