Pastor at San Jose church avoids jail time for holding in-person services
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- On Thursday, the Santa Clara County Superior Court ruled a South Bay church pastor threatened with jail time for holding in-person services will remain free for now.
Robert Tyler, an attorney for Calvary Chapel in San Jose, made the announcement on the court steps just after 5 p.m. following the contempt hearing.
Santa Clara County sued Calvary Chapel Pastor Mike McClure and his church to stop it from hosting indoor services without face masks amid a worsening COVID-19 pandemic.
"The county has expressly said that they're only looking for monetary sanctions," Tyler says. "Not looking to put Pastor McClure or Pastor Carson Atherley in jail, thank God. "
WATCH: Bay Area church continues to defy health order by holding mask-free indoor Christmas Eve service
Dozens of members from the South Bay congregation turned out to the courthouse to support their pastor.
The church still faces more than $1 million in administrative fines for a slew of violations including hosting indoor services without masks for months.
RELATED: San Jose church repeatedly fined for defying health order received $340K in taxpayer money
According to county officials, so far no fines have been paid.
The case will be back in court on Jan. 28 for closing arguments.
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