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Christian Commune Members Charged |
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Written by Xiuhcoatl
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Nov 28, 2005 at 05:35 PM |
Christian Commune Members Charged
Source: ABC-7
NEWPORT BEACH - Four members of a small Christian commune were charged
Monday with misdemeanor violations for refusing to allow health
inspections of the food they make in their kitchen and sell to the
public.
Marie Kolasinski, 84, Doug Follette, 51, and Judy Haeger, 58, made
their initial appearances in a Newport Beach courtroom as supporters
staged a silent protest in front of the courthouse.
Superior Court Judge Brett London postponed arraignment until Dec. 15
to allow Kolasinski, founder of the religion-based Piecemakers Country
Store, and the other members -- none of whom were represented by
lawyers -- to decide if they want to hire counsel, said Susan Schroeder
of the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
A $500 arrest warrant was issued for the fourth defendant, 51-year-old Kathleen Needham, Schroeder said.
The charges against the four stem from two attempts last month by
health inspectors to check out the food operations at their Adams
Street business, Schroeder said.
Members for five years have refused to allow inspectors into the
facility where they make and serve such foods as pumpkin-sausage soup,
caramel apple pie and cranberry muffins, she said.
On Oct. 26, seven members were arrested on suspicion of assault and obstruction of justice.
Kolasinski pulled an inspector's thermometer out of a pot of soup, and
several yelled profanities at the officials, according to published
reports.
Kolasinski later defended the use of profanities, saying that those who
entered the store "don't have consciences, and those words wake them up
and scare them a little."
Members have accused health officials of carrying out a vendetta against them because they stand up for their rights.
The seven arrested posted $5,000 bail and were told the appear in court today. But only the four were charged, Schroeder said.
Kolasinski told reporters that the refusal of the group to allow
inspections is not out of disregard for food safety but because members
feel the code enforcement interferes with their rights.
According to published reports, the front door to the group's
quilt-making and craft business bears a sign that proclaims inspectors
are prohibited from entering under 4th Amendment protections guaranteed
by the U.S. Constitution.
Health officials say the group has been approved to sell only
pre-packaged food items and has been told to stop selling food prepared
on the premises.
Schroeder said Kolasinski is charged with having a food facility
without a permit; refusing to permit the inspection of food on Oct. 6;
refusing to permit the inspection of food on Oct. 26; and with
delaying, resisting or obstructing a food inspector.
Follette is charged with operating without a permit and delaying,
resisting or obstructing a district attorney investigator on Oct. 26.
Needham and Haeger are charged with refusing to permit a food inspection on Oct. 26 and with resisting food inspectors.
The food-related charges carry maximum penalties of up to six months in
jail, while the resisting charges each carry up to a year in jail,
Schroeder said.
Deputy District Attorney Scott Steiner told reporters that his office
wants to make sure "that food establishments in Orange County are free
of food- borne illnesses and not waiting for it to happen."
He said there had been an anonymous complaint that someone in the
kitchen was observed blowing their nose into a towel and continuing to
use that towel in the kitchen.
The two dozen members of the group that was founded in 1978 sell
quilting supplies, runs a hair salon on the premises and live
communally in a few houses near the store. They consider themselves
devout Christians.
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