John Joe Gray

While traveling to San Diego, California, I fellowshipped with a small group in Fresno. During the evening of August 18th, the Bill Brumbaugh Show was playing live on Genesis Communication Network. John Parsons was a guest and was talking about the John Joe Gray situation. He stated that Alicia Gray issued a Press Release  to clear up misinformation. He then said that the Grays are not members of the Kingdom of Heaven Church (Embassy of Heaven Church). It took me by surprise. We have been involved with the Grays since June, 1998.

As you can see, near the bottom of the following Press Release, Alicia states, "We are not members of the Kingdom of Heaven Church." This raises a number of questions. What is membership? Were the Grays ever members of the Embassy of Heaven Church? Are the Grays members of the Embassy of Heaven Church now?

As more information is made available, we will address these questions. For right now, here is the Press Release submitted by John Parsons for Alicia Gray:

Embassy of Heaven Church
Paul Revere, Pastor

August 18, 2000

PRESS RELEASE

STATEMENT OF FACTS

In order to clear up misinformation surrounding the Gray family we have chosen to release a statement of pertinent information regarding and in relation to the current circumstances. The following statement is true to the best of my knowledge.

1. Arrest warrant for John Joe Gray. According to the information we have, Joe has a warrant issued for him for the charges of disarming a police officer and assault on a police officer. The circumstances surrounding this are as follows.

On Dec. 24, 1999, an individual with whom we’re acquainted named Curtis Hartin arrived at our house near Trinidad, Texas, and suggested we take a ride to Palestine to look at a cabin which Joe had built for a friend. When asked if he were going to carry a gun, Joe replied he thought it wasn’t such a good idea as he thought the police were watching closely. When Curtis said he was going to carry and suggested Joe do the same, Joe agreed to do so. Other guns in the car belonged to Curtis.

During the trip, Curtis, driving, continued to exceed the speed limit and Joe cautioned him about it. Curtis insisted he had the latest anti-radar gear. As they approached Palestine, Curtis sped past a DPS car with two officers inside.

The officers turned around, followed, and stopped the vehicle in which Joe was a passenger. After being told to get out, Curtis quickly exited the vehicle and said to Joe, “Sorry, Joe.”

The other officer went around to Joe’s side, opened the door, and asked Joe if he was armed. Joe sat there calmly and replied that he was. After the officer asked Joe if he had a concealed carry permit, Joe replied he didn’t need one, it was his God-given right and confirmed by the constitution.

The officer shouted that it was not a right, drew his pistol, aimed it at Joe and screamed for Joe to get out of the car. As Joe reached up to move the automatic seatbelt so he could exit, the officer start shouting, “He’s going for his gun, he’s going for his gun!”

Joe calmly replied he wasn’t going for his gun and sat back down with his feet on the ground as the officer continued to shout. The other officer at this time jumped in the back seat, grabbed Joe’s right arm and handcuffed it.

As the officer started pulling on Joe’s arm and trying to get his other arm, Joe pushed back against the officer. At some point Joe was hit in the side of the head by one of the officer and following that, both of them ended up on the grass with the officer’s arm around Joe’s head and face. At that moment, Joe bite down. The officer started yelling and the other officer started spraying Joe with pepper spray. Joe then quit biting the officer.

After first aid from an EMT who had arrived, Joe was taken to the county jail in Palestine.

Joe remained in the Palestine jail for two weeks without any charges being filed.

During the time he was in the jail they attempted to inject Joe with a white fluid in a needle and syringe Joe described as a size intended for large livestock, saying it was a TB test. Joe refused and was kept in solitary confinement much of the time. Joe was not allowed any phone calls for the first three days.

After two weeks, during which I paid my locally obtained attorney $1000 to file a writ, Joe had a hearing which he assumed was related to the writ. No writ was ever filed. The hearing was a bond reduction hearing.

Originally, Joe’s bond was set at $300,000 … despite not being charged with anything. After Joe’s bond was reduced to $52,000, again, no charges, we used a rent house we owned as collateral and bonded Joe out.

Some of the conditions of the release imposed by the judge included not being on any property with a firearm nor could he own any interest in any property on which firearms might be carried. Furthermore, he was to report to a probation officer weekly in Athens despite not being charged with anything. Joe came back to Trinidad and hasn’t left.

Circumstances lead us to believe the bondsman was interested in the property used for collateral. We later found out Joe’s attorney, who did not file a writ as he was paid to do (we have a receipt), was closely related to the prosecuting attorney.

We have been told there was a grand jury hearing in May. We weren’t notified. From this grand jury came the charges, I assume.

2. Custody of children. This question is simple. While driving through town on our daughter’s birthday, she and her husband Keith were stopped by the police where it was discovered that Keith had three unpaid traffic tickets and a subsequent arrest warrant.

When they were taken in, although stating her name, Lisa chose not to reveal her date of birth. In any case, it was her husband, not her who was arrested. Lisa was held in jail for failure to identify. When Keith got out, he was supposed to get her out but failed to do so. When she finally got out they came to our house at which time Keith left again.

After two weeks, Keith filed for divorce. During the child custody hearing, Lisa, having no faith in the courts chose not to attend. She has never been served any papers related to the custody of the children.

3. Other contributing factors include Joe’s distribution of constitutional information to local judges and police departments and sheriff’s departments. None seem to have any interest in real law. By their very actions, they are outlaws … outside the law. So I guess we’re known as some of those weird people who still believe in the constitution as well as the Bible.

God’s word is the sole guide for our family. We are not members of the Kingdom of Heaven Church. We believe in God’s Word as it is written. We also believe the constitution is the law of the land as it says and we believe and will follow it as it is written and as our founders wrote and intended it to be.

Our faith in God is strong and unbending … our resolve is without compromise. May God bless you and be merciful to you according to His will.

Alicia Nell Gray

ANG/jp