Former Mich. Pastor Arrested For Encouraging Jurors to 'Vote With Conscience'

A former pastor was recently arrested in Michigan for reportedly handing out flyers regarding jurors' rights in front of a local courthouse.

Former Pastor Keith Wood was reportedly arrested after handing out flyers from the "Fully Informed Jury Association" in late November in front of the Mecosta County Courthouse.

Wood told MLive that he was handing out the flyers because he feels jurors should be informed and know that they can make decisions based on their conscience.

"I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ," Wood told the local media outlet. "Jesus said 'the truth will set you free' and I want people to know the truth."

"If you don't use your rights, you lose them," the former pastor added.

Wood recalled his experience of being arrested to the Fox 17 media outlet, saying that the judge ordered that he be arrested for tampering with the jury.

"She (courthouse personnel) wasn't being rough but she was kind of corralling me and she was touching my jacket, and so I asked her again, I said, 'Am I being detained?' And she goes, 'No,'" Wood told the media outlet.

"[Mecosta County District Judge Peter Jaklevic] came out of his chambers, he looked at me, he looked down the hall, I didn't know who he was looking at, and then he looked back towards me and the deputy and he said, 'Arrest him for jury tampering,'" Wood added.

The former pastor was reportedly held on a $150,000 bond and faces charges of obstruction of justice and attempting to influence jurors.