Could Myrtle Beach church member face assault charges for spraying Mica Miller protesters?
Editor’s Note: This story is being updated to correct Bernard Kenerson’s current standing with Solid Rock Church. Kenerson, a former elder, is no longer with Solid Rock Church. (Updated 9:58 a.m. July 3, 2024
A Solid Rock Church member could be charged with assault and battery after he sprayed several people with water outside the church.
According to SC law, the member could face third-degree assault and battery charges. This is a misdemeanor with a punishment of up to $500 or 30 days in jail. South Carolina defines third degree assault as, “if the person unlawfully injures another person, or offers or attempts to injure another person with the present ability to do so.”
It is not known if the man who sprayed the protesters has been charged. The Sun News requested the incident reports and Myrtle Beach Police spokesperson Randolph Angotti did not comment on the matter.
On June 30, a member came out of Solid Rock Church, 803 Howard Ave., after service, picked up a sprinkler that was turned on and sprayed a group of Mica Miller protesters. The water hit around six people with five people filing assault charges, said protest organizer Alexandra Cuozzo.
No one was injured as a result of the sprinkler although the water irritated some people’s eyes, Melissa Pfeiffer said. Pfeiffer was one of the women hit with water and said although she was not hurt, she felt embarrassed after the water made her white shirt appear sheer.
“Very quickly you could see my undergarments,” Pfeiffer said.
Cuozzo said she and others have been protesting Solid Rock Church since May 6. Mica Miller, the wife of former pastor John-Paul Miller, died on April 27, and shortly after, her case gained national attention after allegations that John-Paul Miller had abused his wife.
John-Paul Miller has denied these allegations.
Why are there protesters?
Protesters meet every Sunday in an attempt to get justice for Mica Miller, Cuozzo said. This can look different to each person.
Pfeiffer said, as a victim of domestic violence, she wants to bring awareness to the issue while Cuozzo said she wants to see Solid Rock Church shut down.
“We want justice for Mica, and I think (closing the church) is the first step that we can take as a community,” Cuozzo said.
There has been public speculation over how John-Paul Miller has allegedly handled the church finances since Mica Miller’s death. This includes that the church owns an airplane and John-Paul Miller allegedly sold his house to Solid Rock, The Post and Courier reported.
Another issue Cuozzo has with the church is the people in it. For example, Bernard Kenerson, a former church elder, has been convicted for sexually assaulting a child, WBTW-TV reported. Kenerson has said that he is remorseful for his crime.
Protesters typically spend Sunday morning near the church, holding “Justice for Mica” signs and chanting phrases such as, “Shame on you,” “Mica’s blood is on your hands,” and “No people, no church.”
“These people are not protesting. Solid Rock believes in the right to protest. These people are pagans who are trying to stop Christian’s from worshipping,” John-Paul Miller wrote in an email to The Sun News Sunday. “We don’t mind them protesting, but we do mind not being allowed to worship Jesus for one hour together, in the city of Myrtle Beach.”
John-Paul Miller also said protesters have been taking pictures of children. Cuozzo said that she and other protesters have not purposely been photographing children. They take videos to document what happens and kids may end up in the background.
John-Paul Miller wrote in the email that he tried to speak to the protest organizer but was dismissed. Cuozzo said he asked if she would come inside the church and speak with him, to which she said no and he walked away. She said she’d be willing to speak to him with police officers nearby.
Overall, Cuozzo said she’s gotten positive reactions from police and neighbors, saying she and other protesters speak to officers about how to follow laws. Neighbors have also donated bottles of water in the past.
Background on the Mica Miller case
Mica Miller committed suicide on April 27, according to North Carolina officials. In May, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office released a video of her buying a gun before driving from Myrtle Beach to a North Carolina state park. There, she called 911 and told them she was planning to kill herself.
Her body was found in a state park.
Her death has become a national conversation topic, with people making TikToks about her, Facebook groups being started and posts circulating online with the #JusticeForMica.
Mica Miller’s father and sister, Micheal and Sierra Francis, told The Sun News previously that they believe Mica Miller was in an abusive relationship with John-Paul Miller. The family made it known that they did not approve of the couple’s relationship.
“I had lunch with her with a minister friend of mine and we talked with her extensively about how it is very, very unwise to be in a relationship with John-Paul,” Michael Francis said.
They also offered help as she tried to leave him. Mica Miller had filed for separation multiple times before her death.
