Court of Appeal Rules with Pastor Of Life Tabernacle In Zachary Case

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeal has ruled with Rev. Tony Spell on a misdemeanor traffic ticket that goes back 21 years.

When Rev. Tony Spell was being harassed by Gov. Edwards at the start of the pandemic, law enforcement agents justified his arrest because the pastor supposedly was a “wanted man” with an outstanding bench warrant.  The bench warrant was from 1999 and tied to a traffic ticket on a vehicle Rev. Spell said he never drove.

In September of this year, Zachary City Judge Lonny Myles convicted Rev. Spell of speeding in the long-forgotten case.  However, Rev. Spell asked for a writ from the 1st Circuit on grounds the prosecution denied him the constitutional guarantee of a speedy trial.  His attorney also argued that the Judge represented Rev. Spell in several matters since 1999 and well knew where to find him.  The 1st Circuit voted 2-1  to hear the case.