Three found guilty of harassing zoning officer
BULLSKIN TWP. – Three members of the controversial Church of Universal Love and Music were found guilty Wednesday of harassing a county zoning officer while he was performing his duties. Christopher L. Williamson, 42, and Jon W. Hendricks, 26, both of Mount Pleasant, and Jason Griffin, 20, of Youngwood, were additionally fined $300 plus court costs in connection with the July 13 incident when they stopped a vehicle being operated by Lloyd “Buddy” Eicher III, an enforcement officer with the Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development as he posted a hearing notice on the property.
Griffin was also found guilty by Magisterial District Judge Robert Breakiron of criminal mischief and ordered to pay $200 of a $473 invoice to repair the county-owned 2000 Jeep Cherokee being driven by Eicher at the time of the incident.
“I’m pleased with the outcome,” said Eicher following the summary hearing. “I was doing my job and they came after me in an attempt to intimidate me. The judge believed that’s what happened.”
While county zoning board solicitor Sheryl Heid and a court stenographer attended the hearing, Eicher was not represented by legal counsel.
During testimony, Eicher said that he was following office protocol with the posting of the public hearing notice and then taking photographs of the Church of Universal Love and Music property before his departure.
The operator of the church and property owner William Pritts had been cited by the county zoning board for failing to halt concerts as ordered by the agency.
As he was exiting the 147-acre property, the three men, said Eicher, came across a cornfield in a Toyota 4-Runner, blocked his vehicle and then surrounded the Jeep preventing his departure.
“They started demanding the film from my camera,” testified Eicher. “I asked them to get out of the way.”
Williamson told defense counsel, attorney David Lint that he, along with 12 to 15 others, were cleaning up the area when he spotted Eicher.
“(His) speed was quite alarming going past the children’s area,” he said.
Williamson added that the three traveled across the property to intercept Eicher in order to offer assistance in his photography of the property.
“We casually walked to his vehicle,” said Williamson. “It is very important not to intimidate someone when you wish to speak to someone.”
As he approached Eicher’s vehicle, said Williamson, the officer “pulled a pistol from a bag, unsheathed it, chambered it with a round and pointed it at me.”
“What did you say,” asked Lint.
“I said ‘whoa’ (and) raised my hands and moved backwards,” said Williamson, adding that he did not have any weapon.
Hendricks testified that he, too, was concerned about Eicher’s speed near the children’s play area and accompanied Williamson and Griffin to “ask the gentleman why he was (at the church) and if he could slow down a little bit.”
There was no testimony to indicate children were playing in the area.
Griffin testified that when he saw the weapon being pointed at Williamson and Hendricks, he moved to the front of the vehicle and was struck by Eicher as he exited the property.
“I was lifted up onto the hood of the car,” testified Griffin, adding that he then rolled off the vehicle and threw a rock which struck the rear of the Jeep.
During testimony, Eicher said that he did point the weapon at the three men, as he felt threatened by their interception and subsequent surrounding of his vehicle, but denied striking Griffin with the vehicle.
Eicher testified that Griffin “jumped” onto the Jeep and then caused damage to the driver’s side door by striking it with his fist.
In a police report completed by investigating officer Trooper Sarah Teagarden, Fayette County District Attorney Nancy Vernon reviewed the details of the encounter and determined that the evidence indicated the three men violated the law.
“The three actors had no authority to stop and surround Eicher demanding his camera and film and not allowing him to leave the property,” states the report.
Eicher, who was suspended for two weeks without pay by the county commissioners in connection with the incident, said he had no immediate plans to appeal the county decision following the Wednesday ruling.