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Supporters rally outside court as Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church appeals his bail conditions In Edmonton on Thursday March 4, 2021. Coates was charged for holding services in violation of COVID-19 rules and which defied his bail order. A group that supports him says it expects he will be released within days. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson March 17, 2021 - 2:46 PM
EDMONTON - A group that supports an Alberta pastor jailed after being charged with violating COVID-19 public-health orders says it expects him to be released in the coming days.
Crown prosecutors have dropped all but one charge against James Coates and have agreed to his release without bail conditions, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said Wednesday
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Canadian Pastor James Coates was recently moved to a general population cell after spending most of two weeks alone following his mid-February incarceration for refusing to comply with COVID-19 church restrictions.
Coates was quarantined for two weeks upon being arrested with only two 15-minute blocks per day outside of his jail cell, his wife told Christian news outlet FaithWire in a recent statement.
He initially shared a cell with another inmate but was removed due to the high-profile nature of his case, Erin Coates stated in an email.
Erin Coates said she is unable to visit him due to COVID-19 restrictions but has been able to speak with him during video calls.
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An Edmonton-area pastor accused of violating COVID-19 health restrictions will likely be released from jail this week after prosecutors agreed to withdraw one of the charges against him, his lawyers say.
On Wednesday, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) issued a news release claiming a win in the case of GraceLife Church Pastor James Coates, who has been jailed since mid-February after being charged with breaches of the Public Health Act.
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Justice Centre says pastor of Edmonton-area church to be released
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Supporters rally outside court as Pastor James Coates of GraceLife Church appeals his bail conditions In Edmonton on Thursday March 4, 2021. Coates was charged for holding services in violation of COVID-19 rules and which defied his bail order. A group that supports him says it expects he will be released within days. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
EDMONTON – A group that supports an Alberta pastor jailed after being charged with violating COVID-19 public-health orders says it expects him to be released in the coming days.
Crown prosecutors have dropped all but one charge against James Coates and have agreed to his release without bail conditions, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms said Wednesday
Alberta pastor will be released from custody in coming days, says group representing him cbc.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cbc.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.