He was wrongly convicted.
An Ohio state appellate court has temporarily blocked a lower court’s decision to fine and imprison Pastor Chris Avell, who runs a 24/7 homeless ministry at his church, Dad’s Place, in Bryan, Ohio. The Sixth Appellate District’s decision pauses the criminal sentence handed down by Bryan Municipal Court, which had imposed a $200 fine and suspended a 60-day jail term. This ruling follows allegations from the city that the church violated zoning regulations due to its continuous operation providing services to homeless individuals.
The case has garnered attention from the First Liberty Institute, a law firm dedicated to defending religious freedoms, which represents Avell. The organization welcomed the appellate court’s stay, noting that this is the second time an Ohio appellate court has acknowledged the validity of Avell’s case. They criticized the city of Bryan for what they consider harassment of the church, citing late-night fire inspections and police interactions. The firm also pointed out what it sees as an inconsistency in fire safety enforcement, as the city demanded costly fire suppression systems for the church while not imposing the same requirements on other local businesses like motels and senior living facilities.
Ryan Gardner, an attorney with First Liberty Institute, remarked that it was unprecedented for a pastor to face criminal charges for assisting those in need. He suggested that the city’s actions were aimed at removing the homeless individuals served by Dad’s Place rather than supporting the church’s mission to care for them.
The conflict began in 2023 when Avell started the homeless ministry. After the facility opened, the city of Bryan filed several criminal charges against the church. Though the charges were later dropped after the church agreed to apply for necessary permits and certifications, the legal battle resumed after an unexpected inspection in April 2024 led to further charges.
This ongoing dispute underscores the tensions between the city and the church over the operation of Dad’s Place, which continues to offer vital services to the homeless community despite facing legal and regulatory obstacles.