Yeiter found; bond set at $1.5M
Published 10:54 pm Tuesday, November 4, 2014
The accused shooter of a Sellersville Community pastor was given a $1.5 million bond Monday.
Brett Richard Yeiter appeared in court one week to the day after he allegedly shot his father-in-law, Paul Phillips, at a Sellersville Community church. Wearing a red and white striped jumpsuit and bulletproof vest, Yeiter’s wife and sister-in-law watched as District Judge Jeff White and District Attorney Steve Billy discussed bond conditions.
Yeiter, 46, was captured Thursday in Amarillo, Texas, driving the same vehicle he left Escambia County in a few days earlier.
Yeiter is believed to be the gunman who fired a fatal shot Monday morning in the Sellersville community that killed Phillips. The incident occurred at the Book of Acts Holiness Church in the Sellersville Community just miles from Brewton and just north of the Florida line.
The $1.5 million bond was more than the Billy’s request of $1 million.
“I feel the need to go with a significantly high bond (than requested by the prosecution) considering where you were found and the circumstances of this case,” White said.
Other bond conditions include prohibiting contact with the victim’s family and that he may travel to a family member’s house in Jay, Fla. If Yeiter posts bond, he must wear an ankle monitoring system since the family member does not live in Escambia County, White ordered.
“And that means you can’t travel to anywhere but Jay to the residence,” White said. “No Pensacola; no Milton and certainly not to any other state.”
A preliminary hearing in the case will be held within 30 days, White said.