Rccatalyst.com reported the continuance of the Robert Louis Walker trial earlier in October. A date for the trial to begin was not set. The reason given was “new discovery.” Translated this means new evidence. Assistant District Attorney Garland Byers agreed to the continuance and one has to interpret from that notion that the “new discovery” held some weight and potential effect on the pending trial, possibly a good thing in the long run (longer than ever anticipated).

For background: these ongoing court proceedings stem from incidents on January 27, 2013 in the Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) sanctuary in which Matthew Fenner alleges he was assaulted, held against his will and strangled. The indictments handed down in January 2015 were filed against Brooke M. Covington, Sarah Anderson, Justin Covington, Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. and Adam Bartley- all church members at the time of the incidents. After many pre-trial motions during 2015 which included a disqualification of Farmer and Morris as counsel for any of the defendants, Brooke Covington’s trial commenced earlier this year. During the June 6th session, unauthorized documents introduced into the jury room by the jury foreman caused Judge Gavenus to declare a mistrial. In addition, he followed this with a gag order on those involved in that trial either as potential witnesses, attorneys and court officials. The jury foreman, Perry Shade, spent 30 days in jail and was fined $500.00. The Associated Press filed suit to remove the gag order.

Rccatalyst.com also reported Judge Gary Gavenus finally ruled on the gag order he imposed in June. In court documents provided on the Rccatalytst.com website, Judge Gavenus modifies the order to allow the jurors to talk freely to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). He orders the sealed documents surrounding the trial and the documents introduced to the jury held and viewed only by the SBI. He states he never intended the gag order to be permanent and set it to expire on March 31, 2018. Included in the documents is a line by line account of the conversations during the session on June 6th. I found this very satisfying and was glad to know the public could get some understanding for how this all evolved in court. The AP’s motion to immediately lift the gag order was unsuccessful.

The concern of Judge Gavenus that somehow the publicity would be controlled by a gag order has been thwarted by the very presence of the long running gag order. It served as a boost to the heightened curiosity and raised doubts as to the desire of the responsible authorities to delve into events which preceded the mistrial. What would they find? How did the jury foreman walk past the bailiff and the judge in open court carrying these documents? The possibility that he was aided in some fashion by another individual cannot be dismissed without proper investigation. After all, who gained the most by the declaration of a mistrial? If memory serves me right, the jurors were allowed to exit and enter the side entrance of the courthouse during their breaks. Were there cameras in that area?

At a very minimum, the obvious presence of a “hands-off” unspoken understanding in the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department headed by the WOFF-friendly Chris Francis has to be explored by the SBI. Why have the survivors of WOFF had such a difficult time obtaining at least an introduction to the process of justice for their claims of abuse? The timeline of Matthew Fenner’s journey to justice begins with much delay and lingers on as the weeks, months and years pass. Has the process been hindered in anyway by the obvious support and coalescing behaviors of WOFF members and the local Republican Party?

Oh, John, there you go! You are mixing two subjects which people should stay away from- religion and politics. Friends, when religion and politics are relentlessly feeding and festering off each other – we all lose. Somehow the aggrandizement of WOFF’s subculture and signature practices supported by our elected officials, many in the Republican Party; makes me ill and leaves a huge distaste for all involved. Looking away from the physical and emotional damages caused by WOFF in light of the volunteer hours and cash supplied by WOFF-members is reprehensible. Agree?

Will the SBI be able to disentangle the personal friendships fostered by many in local government with WOFF leaders and find the truth about not only the events during the Covington trial, but the other areas brought to light earlier this year by the Associated Press? Areas of concern reported this year by the AP include:

1. The treatment of WOFF survivors (adults and children) during their time in the group.
2. Meetings held on WOFF grounds specifically design to change the testimony of church members during legal proceedings and/or investigations.
3. Treatment of Brazilians and other foreign nationals surrounding work-related visa violations.
4. Long running unemployment fraud orchestrated by leader Jane Whaley and others in leadership roles.
5. Questions of improper sharing of sensitive information between a former district attorney and church lawyers.

This ongoing saga does not promise a quick resolution. This list only summarizes the investigation into WOFF in North Carolina. WOFF affiliated churches in Brazil are facing their own scrutiny as also reported by the AP.

Earlier this year, I characterized WOFF as a stain on North Carolina. Let me go onto explain there are many good-hearted, caring folks living as members inside the WOFF subculture. I have known many of them for years. However, to the degree that the physically and emotionally damaging practices along with the potentially illegal activities go unchecked, unchanged and ignored; then we as citizens of North Carolina deserve the rewards thereof. In my opinion, the leader and her leadership must be held accountable, fully investigated and the findings fully processed according to the laws of our State and Nation. Otherwise, what hope is there for the children caught inside the WOFF-maze? What hope is there for the integrity of our State and our social fabric to be purged from this blight? Our hopes remain for now that justice will prevail and the truths about WOFF will be brought into the light.

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults
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Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted.

(Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 620.

Following the predictably unpredictable theme, on Wednesday of this week, Brian Oglesby filed a Motion to Withdraw as counsel for Adam Bartley. Attorney Thomas Amburgey filed a Notice of Appearance to represent Bartley and a Motion for Continuance. Judge Marvin Pope scheduled a hearing on the Motion for Continuance for Friday at 2:00PM, in the Buncombe County courtroom on the ninth floor.

This development came less than two weeks before the trial for Adam Bartley was set to start on October 23rd. The Rccatalyst.com reported this update on Thursday with several documents provided in the article to show the steps leading up to Friday’s hearing.

These proceedings stem from incidents on January 27, 2013 in the Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) sanctuary in which Matthew Fenner alleges he was assaulted, held against his will and strangled. The indictments handed down in January 2015 were against Brooke M. Covington, Sarah Anderson, Justin Covington, Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. and Adam Bartley. After many pre-trial motions which included a disqualification of Farmer and Morris as counsel for any of the defendants, Brooke Covington’s trial commenced earlier this year. Unauthorized documents introduced into the jury room by the jury foreman caused Judge Gavenus to declare a mistrial followed by a gag order on those involved in that trial. The jury foreman also spent 30 days in jail and was fined $500.00. The Associated Press filed suit to remove the gag order. To date, the gag order remains in place and blocking investigators from performing any inquiries into the jury foreman’s actions.

Friday was not my first trip to the Buncombe County courthouse. However, the last trip was so long ago, it felt like the first time. I found a metered parking place near the front of the courthouse and deposited change to buy just a little over an hour. The maximum you could buy was two hours. (after the hearing, I noticed a parking garage across the street which may be an option for next time. ) Though I parked at the front of the courthouse, the entrance is around to the left side of the building. Immediately upon entering, I passed through security and asked directions to the ninth floor. Walking through a couple of different hallways, I found the golden elevators. During my stroll through to the elevators, I found it odd to not see anyone I recognized. Was the hearing postponed?

The elevator doors opened just as the doors to the ninth floor courtroom were opened by a uniformed officer. The attorney’s involved walked in ahead of me to take their positions. Adam Bartley promptly took his seat next to his attorney. This court house allowed cell phones; this allowed the two uniformed officers time to play on their phone as we all waited for the Judge to enter the room. I double checked mine to verify it was off. The courtroom had a very small gallery area compared to other courtrooms. There were framed United States and North Carolina flags hanging behind the judge’s chair as well as one of each flag on a pole behind the judge’s elevated podium. The court workers gathered correct spellings of all of the involved parties in a very relaxed atmosphere. I moved up closer so I could see the clock while taking notes. Oddly, no WOFF leadership were in court to support Bartley, not even DeWitt Prince.

Judge Pope entered the courtroom shortly after the top of the hour. After we all were seated, he addressed Adam Bartley’s attorney, Mr. Amburgey for him to begin his argument. Attorney Amburgey began by outlining his initial contact with Adam Bartley and his then attorney Brian Oglesby. Mr. Oglesby was appointed as a public defender earlier this year after Mr. Bartley was declared an indigent. Amburgey outlined in detail his efforts over this past week to contact District Attorney Ted Bell’s office in order to start a dialogue about the case. His comments noted Mr. Oglesby was not ready for trial and that Mr. Bartley had a right to choose his counsel. Once he had access to the discovery, he would be ready “as soon as possible.”

Judge Pope then turned to Assistant District Attorney Garland Byers for his reply. Byers pointed out this would be Bartley’s fifth attorney and after several discussions with Oglesby, he believed Oglesby was ready for trial. Byers said the right to counsel is a “qualified right”, not “an absolute right”, adding the State of North Carolina makes this very clear. He went on to say he would abide by the court’s decision reminding the Judge this was the oldest case on his list, five years this coming January since the incident occurred.

Judge Pope turned to Amburgey asking when he might be ready to go to trial. “I have no real idea,”he replied, adding – six weeks was ambitious, possibly (ready) by the end of the year. Pope clarified some matters with Byers and threw out December 4th as a possible date to begin. Byers pointed out he had a pending murder trial set for December 11th. December dates did not seem like a good fit for the case’s already set for his office.

Judge Pope suggested January 2, 2018 to which both attorneys agreed. Adam Bartley’s trial will start the first Tuesday of 2018. I saw no discernable reaction positive or negative from Bartley over this entire series of events.

Next, there was some discussion about which trial would called for October 23rd. Byers assured the Judge that Attorney Cates representing Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. was ready and this seemed to please the Judge. He was glad that this case could move forward this month.

Judge Marvin Pope earlier filed a Change of Venue for four of the trials, all except Brooke Covington’s. Today’s hearing could be the first of many sessions in Buncombe County in order for these cases to be tried. It Is not clear if today’s courtroom will serve for the rest of the trials, if so, the gallery space will be limited.

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults
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Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted.

(Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 618.

This case stems from incidents on January 27, 2013 in which Fenner alleges he was beaten and strangled during a blasting deliverance prayer session inside the Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) sanctuary. Five indictments against former and present members have been the subject of a rolling sea of pretrial motions, appeals, a disqualification of counsel and a mistrial. The mistrial occurred this past June in the trial of Brooke Covington. Presiding Judge Gavenous placed a gag order which still impedes the investigation into the mechanics on how unauthorized documents were delivered into the jury room and subsequently lead to the declaration of a mistrial. The jury foreman spent 30 days in jail and was fined $500 for the conduct.

The list of defendants includes Brooke Covington, Justin Covington, Sarah Anderson, Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. and Adam Bartley. The charges include first degree assault and second degree kidnapping for all, as well as the charge of inflicting injury by strangulation against Sarah Anderson.

Today’s hearing was short and to the point. I learned that Judge Pope requested Assistant District Attorney Garland Byers to draw up and order which moves four of the cases to Buncombe County. Brooke Covington’s case was not moved at this time, though her counsel, David Teddy was in court today. Byers will coordinate with the District Attorney’s office in Buncombe County to obtain court dates. Judge Pope was very deliberate and forthright after hearing statements from a few of the counselors in this case.

There are several advantages to moving the trials. Judge Pope will preside over the session in December. There is a larger jury pool with theoretically a more diverse perspective. In my opinion, moving the trial will not hinder local, state, national or international coverage of this saga. Considering the correlating investigations and plot lines already unearthed by the Associated Press since February, the attention will be magnified regardless of the location of the trials. You can count on it.

In other news surrounding the WOFF drama, President Trump nominated District Attorney for Mecklenburg County, Andrew Murray, for the U.S. Attorney position in Western North Carolina. Upon Senate confirmation, he could assume the post immediately. The future of Jill Rose having served as acting U.S. Attorney since October 2015 is unclear. We would hope in order to continue the consistency of the ongoing investigation that she would stay on as an assistant. This remains to be seen.

The entire scene surrounding WOFF has been and remains predictably unpredictable. Jane Whaley was in court today and escorted from the grounds by Attorney Mark Morris. Adam Bartley with his shaved head and nice suit was escorted from the courthouse by prison ministry ministers and faithful WOFF-operatives, DeWitt and Andra Prince. Just how much Bartley has been readmitted into the WOFF sub-culture is not known. For now, he appears very “Woffy”.

Could there be a December to remember for former members of WOFF? Will there be more drama surrounding WOFF practices before the end of year? It is predictably unpredictable, agree?

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnhuddleauthor

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted.

(Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 616.

Weather predictors do their job with computer models and the circumstances as they unfold, attempting to predict the course and strength of this massive storm which did not followed the earlier predictions. Early predictions had the storm following a similar course as Hurricane Matthew from last year, along the east side of Florida. This did not happen. We hear statements now saying parts of the predictions came true while others did not. Weather prognostications are just that- best guesses.

In January 2015, if a legal prognosticator had attempted to predict the course and time frame that the Matthew Fenner case would take to complete, how accurate would they have been? There have been twists, turns and flips in the course of the prosecution of five defendants from Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) which I doubt anyone could have foreseen.

The Rccatalyst.com recently published a updated timeline of the events surrounding this case. This case involves events from January 27, 2013 in the sanctuary of WOFF where in Matthew Fenner alleges he was beaten and held against his will because he was gay. Indictments for first degree assault and second degree kidnapping were handed down in January 2015 against Brooke Covington, Justin Covington, Sarah Anderson, Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. and Adam Bartley. An additional charge of inflicting injury by strangulation was filed against Sarah Anderson.

The pre-trial motions were numerous. The original counsel for the five defendants, Farmer and Morris, led by Joshua Farmer and Mark Morris was disqualified in August 2015. The appeal of that disqualification was eventually withdrawn in 2016 after Sarah Anderson left WOFF and secured her own counsel. Brooke Covington stood trial earlier this year and the outcome of a mistrial were predictably unpredictable, right?

This is September 2017. Today there is a status conference to , hear a motion allowing Robert Denton to withdraw as counsel to Adam Bartley. The change of venue motion will also be heard and who knows what else? The outcome for this hearing is like others before it. Unpredictable. Will Judge Pope allow Robert Denton to drop this case and Adam Bartley to obtain a public defender? My sources are not certain.The new defender would predictably ask for months to prepare his/her case. The change of venue motion entered by Judge Pope is almost a sure thing, right? Really?

Having believed earlier predictions about Irma which turned out to be inaccurate, I will not be in the Rutherford County courtroom today. Once the outcome is known, I will share it here.

In other matters, the Charlotte Observer earlier reported comments by U. S. Attorney Jill Rose indicating progress in the investigation into the treatment of Brazilians inside the WOFF subculture. This investigation comes after the Associated Press released and article detailing Brazilian ex-members involved in potential visa violations by working for little to no pay during their time with WOFF.

While we know the investigation into WOFF and their doings continues, when anything will be made public or indictments for Jane Whaley or any of her leadership is predictably unpredictable. This is a waiting game.

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnhuddleauthor

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted.

(Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 615.

-Motion for Continuance
-Motion for Fenner to produce recordings
-Motion for Change of Venue by Teddy

In a related matter, Judge Gavenus as the originator of the gag order set in place after the mistrial on June 6th in the State versus Brooke Covington trial – has agreed to review the pending motion to lift the order filed by the Associated Press and the Charlotte Observer. He will also review the motion filed by the State to partially lift the gag order so the investigation into the introduction of unauthorized documents into the jury room by the jury foreman can proceed. Judge Gavenus is asking for the supporting documents to be submitted on or before August 1st.

The court calendar lists the State versus Adam Bartley for September 11th. Bartley is one of the Famous Five defendants who all were members of the Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) on January 27, 2013, the date Matthew Fenner alleges he was assaulted and held against his will in a deliverance session in the WOFF sanctuary. The other four include: Brooke Covington, Justin Covington, Sarah Anderson, and Robert Louis Walker, Jr. Since the incident date, Bartley and Sarah Anderson have left WOFF.

In an email from ADA Garland Byers to Bartley’s defense attorney Robert Denton, Byers says the “…it now appears unlikely the State will be able to call Brooke Covington’s case for trial due to Mr. Teddy’s medical situation.” The medical situation is not explained, but has now prompted Byers to alert Denton that Adam Bartley’s case will be called in September. Denton asks for a continuance and Byers explains his reasoning for not agreeing but allowing the court to decide if a continuance in Bartley’s case is warranted.

So, what do we know for sure? The journey for justice is long and has many curves, hills and valleys. We have no idea where it leads or how long it will take to arrive. We have learned to expect the unexpected. What may happen before July 28th? We shall see.

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnhuddleauthor

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted.

(Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 609.

This journey begun with possibly good intentions includes people from several countries and many members hailing from various parts of the United States. On this day when we are to celebrate the freedom afforded us by our Constitution and upheld by our strength as a nation; we are experiencing and witnessing a court case unfold which includes allegations of intimidation and fear, along with testimonies and evidence which any sane person would agree do not signify a healthy religious environment.

A survey of the history of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) includes episodes of religious abuse, political and community scandal, physical and emotional abuse, financial doubts and many court cases full of legal wrangling. A journey of over thirty years has touched so many lives in on several continents in such negative ways. I do not believe what we see as the practices included in the WOFF subculture were ones our forefathers intended to protect when they declared “freedom of religion.”

For reasons which could be debated for months or years, the leader of WOFF has gone down a dark and foreboding path. She has traveled her own direction subjected to her own weaknesses and personal flaws while disdaining outside help or input. In addition, she has a core crew of enablers. This combination has caused the maturation of this group to include verbal abuse, intimidation, fear, physical altercations and a steady diet of propaganda in order to reach its goals and support the her demands.

And now, what do we know?

Matthew Fenner alleges on January 27, 2013, he was held against his will while being assaulted during a deliverance session in the sanctuary of WOFF. In January 2015, five individuals were indicted over these charges. Those individuals include Brooke Covington, Justin Covington, Sarah Covington, Robert Louis Walker, Jr. and Adam Bartley. After many months of pre-trial motions, appeals and delay, the first trial of the State versus Brooke Covington ended in a mistrial based on a jury foreman introducing unauthorized documents into the jury room. After declaring a mistrial, Judge Gary Gavenus placed a gag order on anyone tied to the case including the jury, court officials, attorneys representing any of the five defendants and those on the “State and Defendant Witness List.” (53 names at last count)

Recap of recent events:

June 21, 2017- The Associated Press and Charlotte Observer filed a motion to lift the gag order in this case. They are seeking among other things access to the jurors.

June 26, 2017- The Associated Press releases detailed review of Matthew Fenner’s struggle to have his voice heard and justice be done. Contained in the article were a series of secretly made recordings which included Rutherford County Sheriff Chris Francis and Jill Rose of the U.S. Attorney’s office. Former District Attorney Brad Greenway is quoted in the article.

July 1, 2017- Rccatalyst.com reports Brooke Covington’s defense attorney David Teddy filed motion on June 30th for Matthew Fenner to produce the recordings and the devices which made the recordings. Hearing set for July 17th.

July 2, 2017- Rccatalyst.com again reports Assistant District Attorney Garland Byers filed a motion for a lift of the gag order over the jurors. This motion is to allow investigators to interview jurors about the unauthorized documents introduced by jury foreman, Perry Shade.

July 3, 2107- Attorney David Teddy files Amended Motion dated June 30th which outlines his contention that his client and the State deserve to know what recordings Matthew Fenner may have now or any made pertaining to the events which led to Brooke’s indictment. The Motion specifically lists the AP article as a reason for granting the Motion.

Amended Motion by Teddy

The date for the next hearing on the lift of the gag order and the Motion for Matthew to produce any recordings is July 17th starting at 9:30AM. The Honorable Judge Marvin Jesse Caldwell is scheduled to hear the motions.

In order to bring this present court drama into perspective, let’s revisit the testimony of State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Special Agent Tim Shook during the first trial. The testimony which was eventually barred from the jury included information from an incident about WOFF practices during 1988. This incident involved a lady being restrained to a bed for about 13 days in order for her go through deliverance. The SBI investigation of 1995 contained this information. Eventually then District Attorney Jeff Hunt decided to not go forward with the investigation.

My point? Questionable WOFF practices have been a subject of investigation by authorities for longer than I estimate 24 people on the State and Defendant Witness list have been alive. Many inside WOFF have no idea how long others have battled to break free from the damages from the injurious practices which are being inflicted on them – daily.

Where does it end? What if any positive outcome will be from the road traveled by Jane Whaley and her leadership? Yes, I have seen many of the videos on the WOFF website. Am I impressed? Does a four minute video erase the years of damage and the long list of injured members- former and present? How can decades of abuse to hundreds of people in this country and overseas be erased or made right? The WOFF conundrum continues.

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnhuddleauthor

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted.

(Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 608.

Attorney David Teddy filed a Motion for Continuance citing his preplanned vacation to Ireland during July and the necessity of reviewing transcripts from the first trial adding the expedited costs would run around $5,000. Assistant District Attorney Garland Byers said the Rule for such declaring reasons for a Continuance had not been properly met.

The result so far includes the latest date for trial in the State of North Carolina versus Brooke Covington is now set for September 11, 2017. I don’t know yet who the judge is for that judicial session. It will be interesting to learn and watch the events unfold through the summer.

As an observer, I understand the time and expense for obtaining a transcription of the first trial. My caution is that in an effort to expedite, that the assigned court reporter, Leanna Lynch, does not ask anyone affiliated with Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) to help in the completion of the request- for obvious reasons. Bridges Court Reporting is owned by Laura R. Bridges. She is a faithful WOFF member at last count having previously worked inside the Rutherford County Courthouse. There may be guidelines already in place to prevent such a mistake. I am not sure, but just wanted to make known my concerns.

The case stems from incidents on January 27, 2013 in the sanctuary and foyer of WOFF. Matthew Fenner alleges he was assaulted and moved against his will from which in January 2015 indictments for simple assault, second-degree kidnapping were filed against Brooke Covington, Sarah Anderson, Justin Covington, Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. and Adam Bartley. An additional count of inflicting injury through strangulation was filed against Sarah Anderson.

After many months of pre-trial motions, attorney disqualification and appeals, the first trial of Brooke Covington earlier this spring ended in a mistrial after a juror delivered unapproved documents into the jury room. The juror, Perry Shade, was sentenced to thirty days in jail and a $500 fine for his actions. Today’s post is giving details of the ongoing events after the mistrial.

Also, with a heavy heart, I share the sad news of the passing of Rev. Robert “Bobby” Rape, Matthew’s grandfather. I count it an honor and joy to have known Bobby. In every encounter with him, he was a soft spoken, caring and loving man; a gentle soul. The online obituary is here. The gathering will be Tuesday at Harrelson’s Funeral Home with visitation at 6:00PM and the service to follow at 7:00PM.

Life is too short no matter the number of days. Hug your family and friends, tell them you love them and count each day as a gift. For those who pray- remember Matthew’s family during the days and weeks ahead.

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnhuddleauthor

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted.

(Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 607.

Mrs. Covington is one of five defendants who include Justin Covington, Sarah Covington Anderson, Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. and Adam Bartley. Indictments stemming from alleged incidents on January 27, 2013 at Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF) in which Fenner claims he was assaulted include second-degree kidnapping, first degree assault and one count of attempted strangulation.

Leading up to the Judge’s announcement this morning was discussion which among other things included the question of plea deals or concessions to witnesses – of which Assistant District Attorney Garland Byers admitted there were none at this time after he had withdrawn the plea offered to Adam Bartley in prior months. Covington’s defense attorney David Teddy will be notified should any future deals or concessions be offered.

Additional conversation about one particular email between the State and an attorney for another defendant was reviewed by the Judge who then deemed it not pertinent to the case; sealed in an envelope and placed in the file. Judge Gavenus also outlined the procedure for interviewing jurors. They were to enter the court one at a time from the jury holding room. He would address them first, next Byers would asked questions and attorney Teddy would finish with his questions.

The left side of the courtroom was reserved for the jury pool. They were led in and out by the bailiff. He retrieved each new jury candidate and led them to their seat in the middle of the jury box. He directed their every step.

This arrangement meant the right side of the gallery was for everyone else. Everyone else included the distinct sub-groups, the media, now-WOFF members (leadership and those subpoenaed), ex-WOFF members (many who were witnesses) and family and supporters of Matthew. During the course of the day, it was clear each party knew the invisible boundaries which stood between the opposing groups. The signals became more confusing after lunch as Brooke’s supporters took the second row from the front behind the media and Matthew’s group filled in next with more now-WOFF members behind them. Yes, it was awkward.

Attorney John Grisham entered the court room late carrying at least two large envelopes containing photographs of the sanctuary of WOFF. He explained his tardiness to the Judge citing some personal health issues. Judge Gavenus told him the Motion to View for which he represented WOFF would not be even considered until the afternoon and he excused Grisham. It was plain to see the Grisham was entirely focused on his goal to obtain a denial of the Motion at all costs. He was fully unaware of how his efforts portrayed him as woefully desperate.

The jury pool entered shortly around 10:12AM and Judge Gavenus begins his first of many exhortations to the citizens who had answered the summons to jury duty. He explained who the court employees were and the duties of each. He outlined the procedure for interviewing and he charged them with several admonitions and warnings from which he hoped they would take their responsibilities very seriously. His main message was that each one selected would be required to weigh the evidence according to his instructions, apply the law as he would explain it and make their judgment based only on the evidence presented inside of the courtroom.

The Judge repeated over and over the caution and requirement that each selected juror must abstain from talking to the each other, their family, the media or anyone else about the case. If there was talking about the case inside the jury holding room or elsewhere, he wanted to know about it immediately. He let them know if they were excused to not be upset, they may serve on another case.

The process of selection began. One at a time, a prospective juror was allowed into the courtroom and asked basic questions by the judge. They stated their name, how long they had lived in Rutherford County, which area they lived in, if they were employed and what kind of work they performed. If they were married or had a significant other, the Judge asked them what type of work the spouse did. Next, the juror was asked to review the witness list and let the Judge know if he or she knew anyone on the list. If they recognized someone, Judge Gavenus would probe their relationship to see if it meant disqualification.

Among other questions, they were asked if they had ever served on a jury before and if they knew of any reason they could not render a fair and unbiased judgement once the evidence was presented. After the Judge was finished he politely thanked each juror for their answers and turned them over to the State for further questions.

Assistant District Attorney Garland Byers then introduced himself and began his qualifying or disqualifying questions. During the session, the questions varied according to the answers from previous questions. Most jurors were asked if they knew about the case before they arrived. If they answered positively, he probed for their knowledge and understanding of the case. Questions about subscribing to the local paper, reading the RCcatalyst.com site, having social media accounts, made general searches about WOFF, if they read this blog or knew John Huddle. Byers asked if it came out in evidence that Brooke Covington was a minister at WOFF, would that hinder the juror from rendering an unbiased judgement. Included in his questions were ones about the juror’s strengths of beliefs on homosexuality. He cautioned them they had every right to their beliefs, the State just wanted to ask about their beliefs.

Once Byers was satisfied with his answers, he would either announce to the Judge he was satisfied or ask for the Judge to excuse the juror. Most of the time, he was satisfied. The Judge then directed the defense to begin questioning.

Defense Attorney Teddy introduced himself and had more questions on the whole than the first two. He probed for clarity to answers to previous questions and definitely took the bulk of the time used for each juror. He asked about the juror’s beliefs on marriage as it pertains to the NC legislation recently passed. His questions were aimed to find any reason the juror was either previously biased against WOFF or did not uphold the presumption of innocence requirement in our legal system. Teddy asked if the juror knew about or had attended the Community Forum held recently or knew of the Faith Freedom Fund, Adaville Baptist church or Robyn Spence.

There is not space here to review the entire day’s content. Nor do I plan on revealing anything personal about the individual chosen jurors. Many opinions were expressed about WOFF and their practices. Several were based on news accounts and rumors to which the answer included telling the juror only evidence brought out in trial could be considered in making a judgment.

There was one point in the afternoon which the Judge advised both the State and the defense that WOFF was not on trial, Brooke Covington was. He did not stop the questions about WOFF, he just asked for more focus on whether or not the jurors could fairly weigh the evidence pertaining to Brooke. Also, during the afternoon, Attorney John Gresham reappeared and was allowed to leave his pictures with the Judge.

By the end of the session, seven jurors had been selected. The need is for seven more reflecting twelve active and two alternates.

Shortly after 5:00PM, Judge Gavenus announced the remaining jury pool of 24 will return at 9:15AM and a second jury pool would arrive at 1:30PM. The process resumes on Wednesday. Trial deliberations are expected to begin once a jury is seated. Yes, this could be a long hot summer.

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults and
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Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.
Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted.

(Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 602.

Today was yet another small chapter in the ongoing saga of the Matthew Fenner case. Events from January 27, 2013 are in question. Five present and former WOFF members were formally indicted in January 2015. The indictments against Brooke Covington, Justin Covington and Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. who are still members and Adam Bartley and Sarah Anderson, former members; include second degree kidnapping, first degree assault and one count of inflicting injury by attempted strangulation. After initially attempting to represent all five defendants, WOFF attorneys Joshua Farmer, Mark Morris and all their associates were disqualified by Judge Pope in August 2015.

As a result, all five defendants have separate counsel. Brooke Covington is represented by David Teddy. Justin Covington is represented by Krinn Evans. Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. is represented by Matthew Cabe. Sarah Covington is represented by the Cooper Firm. Adam Bartley is represented by Robert Denton who also represents Nicholas Anderson in his civil case for divorce and custody against Sarah. All five defendants and their counsel were present today.

Now, back to the hearing….

Assistant District Attorney Garland Byers was addressing the issue at hand. Brooke Covington was seated at the defendants table as her attorney, David Teddy, stood to participate in the discussion. Her demeanor was pensive from my view.

Unlike previous meetings, this hearing had a faster pace in part because there was potentially so much on the table. The back and forth questions, answers and reasoning was very lively. I will present a recap of the main points and more than likely will not get them in exact order.

As Byers pleaded his stance that the Judge remain for the duration, Judge Pope commented he had not found any legal precedence for requiring such an arrangement. However, he did offer a solution. He drew upon a previous situation in which multiple defendants had requested he hear all their cases. At that time, he required the each defendant under their own counsel sign a statement agreeing to such. He required this written agreement in hopes of not allowing the arrangement to be grounds for an appeal if a defendant felt they were unfairly tried. His caution was on behalf of each defendant and the State.

The outcome today was similar. Judge Pope gave the defendants and their attorneys ten days to decide if they all agree he could/should hear each case. This agreement is important as it also came out in court the State intends to try each defendant separately with Brooke Covington’s trial first up. During the hearing, Byers revealed that his calendar was full until April of 2017.

Judge Pope lamented his thoughts that this will be a contentious case especially with each trial being a jury trial. He did also express his pleasure that each defendant will be tried separately. He estimated a five day period for each defendant’s trial. As a disclaimer, he said he had not viewed the 2017 judicial calendar and did not know where he would be assigned yet.

Is it likely all five attorneys will agree enough to put it in writing? Who knows at this point? It is also not clear if they don’t agree how that will affect the timetable for the prosecution of the case. Will each defendant be in front of whom ever the judge is for that session?

Somewhere during the hearing, Judge Pope held up an envelope which contained the “evidence” requested from WOFF so many months ago. Each attorney would have access in due time. I have it on very good sources that the evidence is a sanitized version of a memorial service and maybe a wedding or baby dedication. No surprise that WOFF did not feel compelled to give over video of a hot and heavy raucous deliverance session.

Next, the Change of Venue was discussed. Each attorney in turn with the defendant was called to state their preference on the motion filed by the Disqualified Josh Farmer and Mark Morris. Generally, four of the five attorneys said they reserve the right to amend the motion with one possibly replacing it with another original motion. Micah Cooper, representing Sarah Anderson basically said she was not concerned with the Motion or pushing the trial out of Rutherford County. With five trials before us, could there be five separate locations or would they all have to agree on the venue? Not sure.

One point to note, the attorney representing Justin Covington, Krinn Evans, did elaborate and list the RcCatalyst and other social media sources as a reason to move away from Rutherford County. He wanted a right to amend the Motion if needed. Looking over the original Motion, I did not readily find the RcCatalyst in the sources quoted by Farmer. The original motion listed major television and newspaper coverage. Does this tell us who has carried the banner of alarm concerning this case in recent months? Thank you, Mr. Evans for making the point!

I don’t recall the Change of Venire being addressed as that Motion was originally put forth by the State as a solution to the venue question. We shall see if it needs further discussion as the weeks and month roll on.

Bantered about during the discussion was mention of a “Bill of Particulars.” I am working on finding out more about that document and it purpose.

And what would a day in court be without some underlying fireworks between WOFF leadership and former members? Somewhere during the session, Sarah tried to pass her brother, Justin, a note. (He has been in timeout with no cell phone or car privileges.) I was told he dropped the note. The exact contents of the note I don’t know, but feel sure it was loving affirmation from his sister. I don’t believe she would waste her time giving him stock picks or asking about his favorite NFL team, right?

Apparently, some WOFF member picked up the note and must have showed it to the Queen(s) for the Day, Jayne Caudler and Karel Reynolds. As I was standing with Micah and Sarah outside in the top steps of the courthouse, DeWitt Prince opened the door in royal fashion to allow the Queens and their entourage to pass. Sarah shouted, Love you, Justin! To which Queen Caulder snarled something like we left your trash its back inside! (referring to her note)

Honestly, it sounded so petty and snarky. I did not hear any love of God from the group that teaches against bullying! Oh, my!

[Originally, I wrongly identified Karel as the commenting Queen. My apologies to Jayne Caulder for not recognizing position and her unique gift of kindness and compassion. She does set a good example reflecting the one from whom she learned her relationship skills. Yes, there were two Queens on Thursday.)

And to round out the show of love and good manners, as I left I chose to pass by Queen Karel, Justin and the young lady who I don’t know her name. Once they saw me approaching on the sidewalk, they immediately turned their back to me as if on command. I chuckled. I felt this along with Krinn’s comments must have meant I was doing something right. Thank you, Karel. You reminded me why I left WOFF over eight years ago. Honestly, I don’t bite.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that I witnessed a Josh Farmer sighting. He was in the foyer after the hearing on the other side of the Christmas tree talking with Matthew Cabe and Robert Denton. No, I could not hear what they were saying, but I feel certain it was not about their personal Christmas wish list. If this does not violate the letter of the ORDER of Disqualification, could it violate the spirit of the ORDER?

Well, we shall see.

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults and

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnhuddleauthor

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 582.

Several events have colored this year with surprise and even shock. Unfortunately, the conclusion of the Matthew Fenner case has not been one of them. We roll our hopes forward to 2017. The next step in the process will be this Thursday, December 8th.

Rccatalyst.com recently reported the notice filed by Assistant District Attorney Garland Byers requesting four of the five defendants to appear and address pre-trial motions. Adam Bartley’s attorney, Robert Denton will not be available for the hearing and was not listed in the announcement.

This case stems from events of January 27, 2013 inside the sanctuary of Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF). Matthew alleges during a session of blasting deliverance prayer he was held against his will and assaulted including an attempt to strangle him. This form of prayer has been a controversial signature practice of WOFF since its inception over thirty years ago.

Five defendants indicted in January 2015 include present church members: Brooke Covington, Justin Covington and Robert Lewis Walker, Jr. Defendants Sarah Anderson and Adam Bartley are now previous members. Pre-trial motions and rulings relieved WOFF attorneys, Joshua Farmer, Mark Morris and any of their associates from representing any of the five defendants. The Order of Disqualification against WOFF attorneys from Judge Marvin Pope issued in August 2015 survived an appeal attempt filed by Farmer which he subsequently withdrew upon Sarah’s exit from WOFF in February 2016.

These past few months have been filled with hopes for justice held in check by the ebb and flow of the judicial preference for the Honorable Judge Marvin Pope to hear this case. The Motion for Judge Pope to hear this case until final resolution will be heard Thursday. Additionally, determination to pursue or abandon motions for a Change of Venue and Change of Venire previously filed by Farmer will be reviewed by the attorneys involved to obtain their official stance. A change of venue could move the trial to another county. A change of venire could change the jury pool to another county. Either motion if granted would change the complexion of the case.

The months this case has been on hold have not been without drama. Matthew has survived attempts to depose him in unrelated cases. All have been efforts to intimidate and discourage him. Yet, the wheels of justice are still in place and may begin to roll this coming week. Will there be more surprises before the case is concluded? Expect the unexpected as long as WOFF is involved as the stakes are high. In reality, it is not just the five defendants on trial, but the signature practice of blasting prayer along with the leader and founder of WOFF- Jane Whaley have been and will continue to be under the microscope. Will the public view a demonstration of loud prayer before this is over? We can only hope. Any volunteers to help in a demonstration of WOFF-deliverance?

Follow this blog on Twitter- @religiouscults and

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/johnhuddleauthor

Thank you, for taking time to visit and read this blog. Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Jane told me and Josh confirmed it.

Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

Look on the right side of any post for the option to subscribe by email for notifications or RSS feeds notifying of new postings. It is a great feature. Also, find more posts by selecting “Categories”.

Guest posts reflect the opinions of the writers. Their opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of John Huddle or any other persons affiliated with this blog.

Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, for posts written by John Huddle, any information about WOFF is from his memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be.

Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 580.