UPDATE: Pastor James Coates is FREE! GraceLife Church leader released from Edmonton Remand

By Rebel News
|
March 22, 2021

By Sheila Gunn Reid

PETITION: Free Pastor James

Pastor James Coates was held for nearly five weeks on charges related to his refusal to turn congregants away from GraceLife Church. Pastor Coates still has one final hurdle to clear when his charge for violating health restrictions heads to court in May. Please sign our petition if you agree that all the charges should be dropped.

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UPDATE 7:55pm ET: PASTOR COATES IS FREE!

Just got word from my friends inside the GraceLife congregation that Pastor Coates is now free.

He has left the Remand
— Sheila Gunn Reid (@SheilaGunnReid) March 22, 2021

(22 March 2020, 12:55pm ET) Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church in Edmonton is eligible for release today, if he agrees to pay a $1,500 fine.

On Friday, it was announced the Pastor Coates was set to be released after Crown prosecutors agreed to withdraw all but one of his charges related to keeping his church open during the province's COVID lockdown.

According to Global News reporter Fletcher Kent, the judge “admonished” the pastor, saying that his actions “jeopardized the public.”

Pastor Coates has been fined $1500 and is eligible for release today. Judge admonished Coates though saying Coates actions jeopardized the public. "He referred to being a shepherd and a shepherd ought to protect his flock."
— Fletcher Kent (@FletcherKent) March 22, 2021

CBC reporter Janice Johnston reports that Coates will be going to trial on May 3, 2021 on his remaining count after two other charges were withdrawn.

Pastor Coates was asked to turn himself in by local police and has been in custody since February 16, 2021.