Jailed Fla. pastor gets weekends off to preach

(CBS) - A Florida pastor jailed for a taser exchange with a police officer will be on the pulpit in Daytona Beach Sunday, thanks to an unusual sentence that gives him weekends off.

Pentecostal preacher John L. Edwards Jr., 54, was found guilty of battery on a law-enforcement officer after a Sept. 15 altercation, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

According to  WFTV, Pastor Edwards was pulled over by police in front of his mother's house at around 3 a.m.

WFTV reports that Edwards got out of the car after being asked, but didn't cooperate and was belligerent. The female officer stunned Edwards twice with a taser, and then Edwards became enraged and turned the taser on the officer, zapping her in the chest, according to a report.

Edwards was convicted by a Volusia County jury and sentenced him to 45 days in jail, followed by two years of probation, the Sentinel reports. He was also ordered to attend an anger-management class, authorities said.

The judge ruled that Edwards can get out of jail on weekends so he can conduct services at the Pentecostal Apostolic Lighthouse Church in Daytona Beach, according to the Sentinel. He will reportedly be released at 5 p.m. each Friday and must return to the jail by 8 a.m. Monday.