A West Virginia pastor recently found himself on the receiving end of a volatile outburst by an incensed family court judge.
“It’s not a done deal. It’s not over. It’s still going on,” Arthur Hage, pastor of Hurricane Bible Church in Hurricane, W.Va., told The Huffington Post.
Hage, 63, is referring to an incident May 23 in the courtroom of Putnam family law Judge William Watkins. Hage and his wife, Lillian Hage, were divorcing and the
hearing was called to settle a discrepancy over the sale of their home. As the proceeding got under way, a camera captured Watkins screaming at Arthur Hage.
“Mr. Hage, if you say one word out of turn, you’re going to jail. Do you understand me?” Watkins said. “Shut up! Don’t even speak. You disgusting piece of …” He never completed the sentence.
Watkins said he was upset over an article posted to PutnamLIVE.com, which included a photo of the judge’s home. Watkins accused Hage of being responsible for the publication of the photo and speaking with the reporter who wrote the article.
“You are responsible. I’m holding you personally responsible for anything that happens at my house,” Watkins said. “My house has been vandalized four times. You realize that, of course, because I’m sure you’re probably in on it, laughing about it.”
Hage denied speaking with the reporter and according to PutnamLIVE.com, the pastor did not participate in the article. The context of the piece also fails to mention anything about Hage. It was about a letter Watkins’ homeowners’ association sent out listing him as “not in good standing.” The article claims Watkins, when asked for comment about the association’s allegations, called PutnamLIVE.com reporter Mark Hallburn “the south end of a horse facing north.”
