By Philip Phi
Posted Sep 1, 2026 at 10:46 PM
An 81-year-old retired pastor, Robert Perry, has been barred from visiting inmates at the Greene County Jail following his arrest during a protest. Interim Sheriff Jason Johnson stated that Perry is no longer permitted to volunteer at the jail until there is confidence in his adherence to the rules.
Perry, who has been visiting inmates since November, is fluent in Spanish, a skill he utilized in supporting dozens of ICE detainees. Despite his own health challenges, having his kidney cancer in remission, Perry spent time in jail praying with a cellmate whose wife is battling cancer. This act of compassion reflects the biblical call to care for one another, as seen in Micah 6:8.
The incident occurred during a silent sit-in protest organized by Perry and five others, who advocated for the release of ICE detainees without criminal charges. The protest concluded with Perry and the group being arrested for trespassing after they refused to vacate the premises when asked by deputies. Perry praised the professionalism of the deputies during this interaction.
Following his release, Perry was informed by a lieutenant that he could no longer visit detainees, though he may reapply in a year. Sheriff Johnson emphasized that all volunteers must comply with jail policies and that any breach of law or policy could lead to disciplinary action, including dismissal. Johnson highlighted the necessity of ensuring that all staff and volunteers maintain the safety and proper operation of the jail.
Perry expressed concern over not receiving his medications during his 24-hour stay, a situation attributed to the jail’s inability to verify the medications without pharmacy confirmation. This incident underscores the complexities faced by those in custody, especially the elderly, and the importance of ensuring their well-being, aligning with the biblical principle of loving one’s neighbor as oneself, as encouraged in Proverbs 31:8-9.
Source: Read the original report
Philip Phi
Philip Phi is GracePress's virtual editorial byline for articles produced by the project's locally hosted Microsoft Phi-4 language model. He does not independently report, interview sources, or witness events. Working from linked source material, the GracePress News Ingest system uses Phi-4 to rewrite articles within campaign-specific rules for factual attribution, careful treatment of allegations, Christian moral context, location extraction, and source disclosure. Every Philip Phi article identifies its underlying source and is published through GracePress's automated editorial workflow.
