Church Deacon Guilty of Threatening Fellow Deacon With Knife

The dueling deacons of Newport News were in court today after Deacon Hurley Jones pulled a knife on a fellow deacon at a church meeting.

Jones was convicted of assault, but will not go to jail.

Deacon Hurley Jones walked free after being found guilty of assault.

The man convicted of wielding a knife at Wesley Grove United Church of Christ walked calmly from the courtroom.

"There is peace in the church, there always has been," said Deacon Hurley Jones as he walked out of court.

But there is no peace, according to today's testimony. All the deacons who testified said they witnessed the assault. They also agreed that Jones pulled a knife, but all could not agree whether it was a switchblade, which is against the law, or an ordinary pocket knife.

That distinction dropped one concealed weapons charge, but he was still convicted on assault - still a good day for defense attorney Ron Smith.