Results by Google
Home News 

Story

downtown Atlanta rain
Severe Weather Team 2 meteorologist David Chandley is tracking several storm systems that will bring more rain to our area. Full Story ››
SLIDESHOW: Cool Ways To Keep Cool
MAP: Who's Feeling The Heat?
RADAR: Zoom To Your Neighborhood

Bishop Surrenders; Charged With Choking Atlanta Evangelist

Posted: 6:03 am EDT August 23, 2007Updated: 5:26 pm EDT August 24, 2007

The husband of televangelist Juanita Bynum turned himself in Friday to face charges of aggravated assault and terroristic threats following a confrontation in which he left her badly bruised.

Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III, founder of Global Destiny churches, surrendered to police at the Fulton County jail Friday morning.

He refused to speak to reporters as he entered the jail.

The struggle happened early Wednesday in a hotel parking lot near Atlanta's airport, and a hotel bellman pulled Weeks off Bynum, Campbell said.

"They were talking about a reconciliation. They got into an argument. In the process of the argument, her husband walked out to the parking lot area, turned back around and started to choke Miss Bynum," Officer Ronald Campbell said.

"As he choked her, he pushed her down to the ground and started to kick her and also stomp on her," he said. "There was a bellman at the location who witnessed the whole assault, intervened, and pulled Mr. Weeks off of Miss Bynum."

Bynum gave WSB-TV Channel 2 pictures that showed her injuries.

Weeks did not return a phone message or an e-mail request for comment Thursday by The Associated Press. A call to Global Destiny was answered only by a recorded message with information about the ministry.

Amy Malone, a publicist for Bynum, said, "She was not in a fight with her husband; she attacked by her husband."

Malone said Bynum did not wish to add anything further.

"Basically she is recovering," Malone said. "The appropriate steps have been taken to ensure that this does not happen again. She just asks that everyone respect her privacy."

Bynum is a former homemaker, hairdresser and flight attendant who became a Pentecostal evangelist. She got a break when Bishop T.D. Jakes invited her to speak at one of his conferences several years ago.

Her ministry blossomed after her "No More Sheets" sermon about breaking free of sexual promiscuity at a singles event. She writes books, records inspirational CDs and preaches to millions through televised sermons.

She married Weeks in 2002 in a televised wedding.

More Headlines