In a number of posts on Facebook, Pastor Coates’ wife Erin said:

“James has been in isolation in a cell block since yesterday morning. His hearing didn’t go very well. The crown went for the jugular. The JP say he didn’t want to detain him, he wasn’t interested in making a martyr of him. He could walk if he just sets aside his God-given pastoral duties but he can’t do that. He has a hearing today to set a court date for his charges. It’s very possible that they will remand him until his court case. The Crown has called him a danger to the health and safety of Albertans. May God have mercy on our nation! I read to my children the work the Lord is doing in people through James so they can see the sacrifice of their father is not in vain. My prayer is that men will stand! They can’t see that if they shut us down on this issue they will shut us down on any issue they deem to be ‘a danger to the health and safety of Albertans.”