US Pastor Sentenced To Prison In Russia

MOSCOW (AP) - A Moscow court has sentenced a South Carolina
pastor to more than three years in prison after convicting him of
smuggling hunting ammunition into Russia.
The Reverend Phillip Miles, who has been in custody since his
arrest February 3rd, said he brought the box of cartridges for a
friend, not knowing that it's illegal to bring such ammunition into
Russia.
Miles expressed disappointment as court bailiffs led him away in
handcuffs.
His lawyers say they'll appeal the sentence, which they call
surprisingly severe.
The Web site for Christ Community Church in Conway, where Miles
is pastor, says he and his wife are "confident that God is in the
middle of all of this and that His purposes will prevail."

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)