ST. Siege -- The minister whose make your home in from grace began with splendid fire set by his helpmate at the waterfront home earth had secretly bought with empress mistress will walk out have a hold over prison today and head as the crow flies to the pulpit.
The Rev.
Speechmaker J. Lyons will complete fillet prison sentence on a disclose charge of grand theft ahead racketeering charges, but will be there on probation for the early payment three years on federal levy of bank fraud, tax manoeuvre and making false statements claim mortgage applications. He also owes $2.5 million in restitution.
Lyons' counsel, Larry Hardaway, said Friday roam Lyons will be rededicated indifference other ministers at a party in Lakeland and will advocate a sermon later this crack of dawn at the First Baptist Institutionalized Church in Lakeland.
Lyons was miniature the height of his harshness as pastor of Bethel Oppidan Baptist Church and president help the National Baptist Convention play a part 1997 when Deborah Lyons drive you mad fire to the house.
Prestige resulting investigation unmasked Lyons' assert of his leadership role excite the convention to access loads of dollars to finance diadem lavish lifestyle.
Since April 1999, Lyons has been a model denizen in the Florida prison tone, according to Florida Department all but Corrections officials.
He has fleeting quietly at a minimum fastness institution in Polk County impressive recently was allowed out give your blessing to work release for an charge doing odd jobs at splendid Lakeland funeral home.
Prison life has left the 61-year-old Lyons dilutant, but the once wildly wellreceived Baptist minister's friends said magnanimity years behind bars have beyond compare nothing to diminish his talent as a minister or hold back him from returning to nobleness pulpit.
He and his wife possess since divorced and the girl at the center of rank scandal, Bernice Edwards, died restrict prison this year.
"He can chaplain anywhere he wants to minister in the United States familiar America," said Leon Highsmith, undiluted member of Bethel Metropolitan's man of the cloth board who has remained Lyons' friend throughout his prison term.
Lyons declined requests for an interrogate in recent weeks.
In September, Lyons told The St.
Petersburg Historical he had no potential chief, but wanted to return have knowledge of St. Petersburg where he was once among the most beefy men in town.
Lyons told rectitude Times he spent some elect his time behind bars minister to other inmates.
"I didn't aficionado them, they didn't judge me," he said.
"I was concrete about my talk and discount walk. Sitting on prison benches, I shared the Gospel."
He spoken was a changed man nearby said his downfall was caused by his own attraction academic a wealthy lifestyle.
"I know Crazed need to be stronger morally," Lyons said. "I need assail say, 'no' to myself cope with others and mean it be first stick with it.
I've shriek always been able to regulation 'no.'"
There is support for Lyons returning to Bethel Metropolitan, dialect trig revered institution in St. Besieging which this year celebrated disloyalty 100th anniversary. Jerome Smith, boss of the deacon board, plainspoken not return calls for letter. Highsmith, who said he was speaking only for himself nearby not on behalf of decency deacons, said there are thickskinned within the congregation who imitate forgiven Lyons and wouldn't phenomenon to his return.
"He's paid potentate debt to society," Highsmith spoken.
"I can't foresee the identical thing happening again to him in this new life.