Man slapped with 15 months in jail for disrupting church

A look of disbelief came over Ricardo Samuel’s face Tuesday, when Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias sentenced him to 15 months in prison for disturbing a church service.{{more}}

The Questelles resident appeared at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on May 20 and pleaded guilty to the charge of disturbing a religious assembly.

According to the facts, at about 8:30 p.m., on Sunday, May 18, while the Questelles Evangelical Church was conducting an open air service, Samuel went into the congregation and began using indecent language.

He was told to desist, but continued using profanity.

The pastor, Wade Carter, then spoke through the microphone and asked Samuel to stop his behaviour.

When one of the men present attempted to accost Samuel, a fight broke out between them. The police were then called to the scene and Samuel was taken away.

In court, Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Glenford Gregg said Samuel’s action had crossed the line.

“We have gone too far. That is why we are like this today — a lawless society. This kind of thing has to stop,” an irate Gregg stated.

In his explanation, Samuel told the magistrate that he was being threatened by a man at the time of the incident.

“Me been vex. Is ‘bout five people attack me. I been just vex at the time,” he briefly explained.

The charge carries a maximum custodial sentence of two years.

Magistrate Browne-Matthias told Samuel that the offence was a very serious one and noted that she needed to send a message.

“We need to send a message to the community that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated,” Browne-Matthias said. (KW)