Louisiana Pastor Charged After Alleged Assault on Neighbor

WHO:

NY Post - Tony Spell, the 48-year-old pastor of the Life Tabernacle Church.

Alternet - Scott Sherwin, father of the 20-year-old son involved in the incident.

Alternet - Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran.

WHAT:

NY Post - Tony Spell is accused of attacking his neighbor's 20-year-old son.

Alternet - Spell has been charged with second degree battery and has a $25,000 bond.

Alternet - Spell allegedly punched the neighbor's son eight times, tackled him, and then hit him an additional 27 times during the fight.

Alternet - Spell also threw the neighbor's phone into the street and kicked the man’s side after the fight.

WHERE:

NY Post - The incident occurred across from the Life Tabernacle Church.

Alternet - The church is located on Hooper Road in Central, Louisiana.

WHEN:

NY Post - The altercation took place on a Tuesday.

Alternet - Spell was arrested a day before he defended his actions on the steps of his church.

WHY:

NY Post - The neighbor allegedly threatened to rape and kill Spell's wife.

Alternet - Spell claims the Sherwin family has been "terrorizing" him and his congregation for months, referring to them as "domestic terrorists."

HOW:

Alternet - Surveillance footage shows Spell running across a four-lane highway to confront the neighbor's son.

Alternet - The fight began after the neighbor's son allegedly shouted obscenities at Spell.

(UPDATED June 25, 2026 13:45 UTC)

Tony Spell, the pastor of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central, Louisiana, has been charged with second degree battery after allegedly attacking his neighbor's 20-year-old son, punching him eight times and hitting him an additional 27 times during a fight. The altercation, which began when the neighbor's son reportedly shouted obscenities at Spell, took place across from the church, and Spell is currently out on a $25,000 bond. Surveillance footage shows Spell running across a four-lane highway to confront the young man, and he claims the Sherwin family has been "terrorizing" him and his congregation for months.