Tony Spell’s battery case awaits charging decision; Dec. 7 review scheduled

BATON ROUGE, La. — Months after a videotaped confrontation outside Life Tabernacle Church led to Pastor Tony Spell’s arrest, the case reached a September court review without prosecutors having formally filed charges. Another bond review was scheduled for Dec. 7.

Spell, who leads the church in Central, appeared in court Sept. 15 following his June 23 arrest on suspicion of second-degree battery. He remained free on a $25,000 bond. His attorney, Jeff Wittenbrink, said prosecutors had not yet billed the case.

“He’s not yet been charged. The case has not been billed,” Wittenbrink said.

According to Wittenbrink, the judge indicated that if prosecutors had not filed charges by December, the matter would be removed from the recurring bond-review docket, ending the requirement for those status appearances.

The arrest followed a confrontation around 11 a.m. June 23 on Hooper Road near the church. According to arrest records, the 20-year-old neighbor told investigators he shouted a profanity at Spell while standing outside his home before the pastor crossed the road. East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies investigated and arrested Spell.

Video released by the neighboring family appears to show Spell running across the street toward the young man. The footage appears to show the neighbor swinging first before Spell pins him down and repeatedly strikes him. Arrest records describe the young man curling up on the ground as the blows continued.

The young man’s father, Scott Sherwin, said his son required five stitches in his chin. Sherwin described a long-running dispute between his family and Spell.

Spell defended his actions during a June 24 news conference, alleging that the neighbor had threatened to sexually assault his wife and grandchildren and kill members of his family. Spell did not provide audio or video evidence supporting those allegations at that appearance. The young man’s father denied that his son made the threats.

Spell and his attorney also accused Central police of failing to address earlier complaints. Police Chief Roger Corcoran disputed that account, saying his department’s records contained five incidents involving Spell and his wife over four years, only one of which involved a complaint against the neighboring family.

That complaint, documented in March, included allegations from Spell’s wife, Shaye, about obscene gestures, shouted profanity and a vehicle encounter. An officer also documented a neighbor shouting obscenities and making gestures. Corcoran said the conduct investigated did not warrant criminal charges and that Spell should have contacted police about the alleged threats.

The dispute continued after the arrest. Body-camera footage recorded around 4:50 a.m. June 25 showed deputies speaking with Spell about a complaint over early-morning grass cutting. During that exchange, Spell used a homophobic slur to describe the young man and warned that another person would be next if he harassed people standing nearby.

A protective order filed July 10 in the 19th Judicial District Court required Spell to remain at least 50 yards from the neighboring home, with an exception allowing him to check his mailbox. It also prohibited communication with the young man or his family.

At the September hearing, Spell continued to characterize his actions as protecting his family and congregation. The Sherwin family has disputed his explanation of the confrontation. No determination of guilt was reported at that hearing.

Update check, Nov. 2: The latest substantive development located was the Sept. 15 hearing. No later public report confirming formal charges, a dismissal or a trial outcome was found.