BURLINGTON, Vt. -
A Mennonite pastor is free despite being convicted for his role in an international child kidnapping.
Moments after being to sentenced to 27-months in prison, pastor Kenneth Miller walked out free while his case is appealed.
"This is wholly unexpected and I'm very grateful for the mercy of god. I'm also grateful for all my friends and cell mates back at St. Albans and back at Essex County. They took me in and made me one of their own," says Miller.
Miller was welcomed by about 100 supporters outside the federal court in Burlington Monday.
Earlier they had packed a courtroom, where Miller was sentenced for aiding an international child kidnapping. The U.S. Attorney says the Virginia pastor helped Lisa Miller, no relation, take her daughter Isabella and escape to Nicaragua.
Lisa Miller had been in a child custody dispute with Isabella's other mom Janet Jenkins.
Prosecutors did not want to talk after court but inside they said this was a crime cloaked in religious beliefs.
The judge says while he respects Miller's religion that's not an excuse for breaking the law.
But until a higher courts rules on whether the trial should have happened in Vermont or another state, Miller does not have to start his sentence.
If Miller's appeal is unsuccessful and he has to serve his time, the judge is recommending he do it at a camp in Virginia, which is near his wife and children.
And as for where Isabella and Lisa Miller are no one seems to know or is not saying.
