Expelled Marrying Ministers May File Suit

Tuesday, May 06, 2003

One of the marrying preachers expelled from the County Courthouse said four of the ministers plan to sue the county.

"It hurt me so much. It was so outrageous. I pay taxes," Rev Yvonne Freese said.

She said she and Revs. Mark Sandilands, Leroy Fitch and David Phillips plan to file suit.

A fifth minister, Rev. Tommy Davis, said he is retiring from the courthouse weddings.

County Attorney Rheubin Taylor on Monday hand delivered a letter to the preachers, saying they were no longer welcome inside the courthouse.

The ministers have been quarreling recently, and security officer Lt. John Sertel had two sit-down talks with them.

Rev. Freese said she and Rev. Sandilands are making plans for a wedding chapel.

She said they would meet couples outside the courthouse and take them to a chapel. She said the charge would be $75.

She said, "If we ministers don't do it, who will marry the couples?"

Standing by the courthouse door on Tuesday morning, she said she was waiting for Rev. Sandilands to pull up in his black Mercedes.


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