Judge Sentences Man to 3 Months of Church Attendance

An Ohio judge sentenced man to 12 consecutive Sunday church services after a physical altercation in downtown Cincinnati.

Jake Strotman, a Catholic and self-employed salesman, and his friends were enjoying a night of beer and hockey at the Cincinnati Cyclones vs. Fort Wayne Komets hockey game. They decided to spend the rest of their night in downtown Cincinnati when they came across a group of Baptist street preachers.

Strotman told the Cincinnati Enquirer he went up to the street preachers and "gave them my two cents worth."

"They were telling me I was going to hell," Strotman said. "I was asking them: 'Why do you think you can condemn people?' I didn't understand why they thought they could judge me."

The conversation escalated to yelling, shoving, and an all-out brawl. Strotman pinned the Baptist preacher to the ground and cut him with his own glasses.

Ohio Judge William Mallory convicted Strotman of a misdemeanor and attempted assault. According to EWTN News, Mallory gave Strotman the option of spending 90 days in jail or choosing his own punishment.

Strotman proposed his own sentence: attending a church of Mallory's choosing.

Mallory agreed and the man was sentenced to 12 consecutive Sunday services at a local Baptist church. According to EWTN News, Strotman was also required to have the weekly program signed by the pastor. 

"Three months, that's not that bad," Strotman told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "I think it's a nice example of hearing people out instead of getting angry and jumping to conclusions...I'm going to listen with both my ears and keep my mouth shut,'' he said.