Search
Share & Follow Religion News Blog
Remember These Stories?
Two years ago today: Would-be victim asked cannibal to eat him , 'Volunteer' was alive during cannibal carvery and Cook tells court of cannibal's menu choice
Piecemakers plead not guilty
NEWPORT BEACH – Three members of the Piecemakers are digging in for a showdown with the district attorney while a former member of the religious group has entered into a plea bargain.
Marie Kolasinski, 84, and Doug Follette, 51, pleaded not guilty Thursday to running a restaurant without a health permit and resisting authorities. Judy Haeger, 58, and Kolasinski pleaded not guilty to resisting health inspectors.
Follette and Haeger face up to 18 months in prison and Kolasinski faces up to 30 months if convicted.
The allegations stem from an Oct. 26 court-ordered inspection of the home-style eatery inside Piecemakers Country Store on Adams Avenue in Costa Mesa.
Kathleen Needham, who disassociated herself from Piecemakers after being arrested with the others during the inspection, sent authorities a letter asking to resolve the matter, Deputy District Attorney Scott Steiner said.
In a deal reached last week, Needham, 51, pleaded guilty to resisting health inspectors and agreed to pay $220 in fees and perform 40 hours of community service. She must also send a letter of apology to the county health inspector involved in the incident.
Needham had faced up to 18 months in prison, and a warrant had been issued for her arrest when she did not show up for court last month.
Judge Brett London on Thursday gave the other three defendants a chance to speak with Steiner about settling the charges, but they declined.
“Settling won’t prove our point, which is that these laws need to change,” Follette said.
The Piecemakers – a group of about 25 people who live and work together and say they are devout Christians – consider the state health code to be unconstitutional and financially burdensome.
Steiner said the county has a responsibility to ensure every business is free of food-borne bacteria, and inspectors must have access to Piecemakers’ eatery.
He has not accused the group of having a dirty restaurant.
The Piecemakers asked to legally represent themselves, despite the judge’s warnings that it is unwise to go up against an experienced prosecutor in a criminal case. After the hearing, they said they might reconsider their decision if they can find an attorney with enough “courage” to fight for their cause. They also threatened to sue everyone involved in the case.
The Piecemakers have been in dispute with the county for nearly 15 years. The latest round began Oct. 6, when the group refused to let inspectors in. The inspectors returned Oct. 26, armed with a court-order, district attorney investigators and Costa Mesa police officers.
Most restaurants in the county submit to inspections, officials said. A few resist, they said, but give in when inspectors get a court order.
About 15 people quietly demonstrated Thursday in support of the Piecemakers outside Harbor Justice Center, chanting, “Too many rules, too many laws, where has freedom gone?”
Bookmark, Share, or Email This Page
Read Another Article
|
Related News Articles
Topic(s): 
Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates
Find Related Information
Find Related 
Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles
Search Religion News Blog