Satanist acquitted of disrupting government meeting

April 5, 2019

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A Florida religious freedom activist and self-proclaimed Satanist who objects to prayers before government meetings has been acquitted of disrupting a meeting.

The Pensacola News Journal reports that First Judicial Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford reversed David Suhor’s conviction Thursday, ruling that there wasn’t enough evidence for an Escambia County circuit court to convict him last August of trespassing and resisting arrest.

Authorities say Suhor, a member of the West Florida Chapter of The Satanic Temple, was arrested at an Emerald Coast Utilities Authority meeting in February 2018. He attempted to deliver the Lord’s Prayer before the start of the meeting to protest the board’s practice of a board member leading a Christian prayer before the official start of the meeting.

Officials say a deputy and a security guard had to drag Suhor from the meeting.

Pensacola Satanist acquitted of trespassing after praying at ECUA meeting

Jim Little, Pensacola News Journal Published 2:33 p.m. CT April 4, 2019 | Updated 3:09 p.m. CT April 4, 2019

David Suhor, a local religious freedom activist and Satanist, was acquitted Thursday of trespassing and resisting arrest at an Emerald Coast Utilities Authority board meeting after he successfully appealed his conviction.

First Judicial Circuit Court Judge Jan Shackelford reversed Suhor's conviction in Escambia County Court, ruling that there wasn't enough evidence to convict Suhor of the two misdemeanors.

"I feel good that we won," Suhor told the News Journal on Thursday. "I feel that it's absolutely ridiculous that it got to this point. I have video proof that (ECUA chairwoman) Lois Benson lied under oath, and she knew it, saw I had the proof and didn't even bother to recant."

Suhor, a member of the West Florida Chapter of The Satanic Temple, was arrested in February 2018 on suspicion of trespassing and nonviolently resisting arrest when he attempted to deliver the Lord's Prayer before the start of an ECUA meeting to protest the board's practice of a board member leading a Christian prayer before the official start of the meeting.

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