More troubles for Sugarleaf Church of California according to local media
According to the local media source "The Californian", Sugarleaf Rastafarian Church, newly proclaimed throughout the state of California and proving to reek havoc, and they may just be proven right in days to come as all sorts of legal inquiries and investigations into both Sugarleaf and it's "leaders" continues on a multitude of levels.
According to the report, the property now called "Yuba Trees" Church/Farm is owned by Jevaughn Bennett, a resident of New York state. According to Heidi Lepp, Bennett is a member of Sugarleaf Rastafarian Church but as of yet no confirmation from Bennett has been received despite attempts by inquiring media. What is known though is that this is not the first time this property has been cited for cannabis cultivation as last year county officials report there being $400,000.00 in fines. We also have received word that Bennett has been legally leasing the property to Heidi personally for a few years, and not as or for use as a church nor had the "church defense" ever come into play as an attempt to protect the grow site before now.
A few points that we as ONAC KM feel is appropriate for addressment are as follows:
"Heidi Lepp said Sugarleaf had given ONAC more than $50,000 and ONAC sent its troubled members to Sugarleaf, all of whom the Rastafarian church helped.
—If anyone is selling fake churches, it isn’t me,’ Lepp said. ‘How do you call yourself a church and not protect your members ‘. You just take their money and not respond?’
Thankfully the reporter covering this article proves to be a quality journalist and heard from Oklevueha on this statement as well, and reports:
"James Mooney, co-founder of ONAC, said Thursday that the Native American church does not practice Rastafarianism, and that the Lepps tried mashing the two together. Mooney said ONAC has not received any money that the Lepps claim they have given to the church."
ONAC KM would like to address the statement Lepp made to the journalist to which James wasn't given a response quote: "ONAC sent its troubled members to Sugarleaf, all of whom the Rastafarian church helped." by assuring that Oklevueha has Never "sent" any of our members to Another Church, that is preposterous! Oklevueha does not promote nor denounce Anyone's personal religious creeds and in the unfortunate event as having to take a member out of good standing, we don't point them toward another church's direction."
In fairness it's worth mentioning as a voice of ONAC on that statement, that it was the contrary being portrayed here, and done so by the Lepp's in the name of Sugarleaf Rastafarian Church being protected as if they were Oklevueha members. "If Sugarleaf had any legal standing or protection of there own they wouldn't have been pushing and insisting that their members were Protected BY Oklevueha, especially knowing they weren't even processing them to reflect as being ONAC members, which would have only been $30.00 per member each to do Tops, if they had then the Members would have valid ONAC protection, but because they didn't, there members don't."
When asked what would have happened to Sugarleaf ONAC members registered with ONAC now that Sugarleaf has been disassociated, officials say that "The members would have been rolled over to the Mother Churches roll unless they had another independent ONAC they wished to be reflected as a member of willing to adopt them into."
As always, we thank you for your continued interest and support as we do our best to leep you informed of news and information encompassing Oklevueha, and encourage you to stay tuned for future updates about this and other information you might appreciate knowing.
