Ensley Man Pleads Guilty to Assault of Catholic Priest Who Had 'Improper Relationship' with Wife

By Kelsey Stein
Al.com
August 28, 2013

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/08/ensley_man_pleads_guilty_to_as.html

Calvin Payne

The Rev. Emmanuel Isi

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Calvin Payne, the Ensley man charged in a 2011 attack on a Catholic priest who was involved with Payne's wife, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in Jefferson County circuit court this morning.

Payne, 57, was charged with attempted murder in an Aug. 17, 2011, attack on the Rev. Emmanuel Isi, who at the time was associate pastor of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Payne's trial had been scheduled for Sept. 9 but he instead entered a plea agreement with the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office during an appearance this morning before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Alfred Bahakel.

Payne pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of first-degree assault. According to his plea agreement, Payne will serve 15 years in prison, but a probation hearing is set for Oct. 28 at 9 a.m.

Isi, now 59, was attacked in the 5600 block of Avenue H in Belview Heights after being involved in a car wreck. Payne was arrested Aug. 23.

After the attack, Bishop Robert J. Baker told AL.com that Isi had been warned to discontinue an improper relationship with a woman who may have been the wife of his attacker.

Witnesses told Birmingham police that Isi was dragged from his car then assaulted after a collision that ran one car into a cinder block wall.

Deputy Jefferson County District Attorney Carlos Gonzalez prosecuted the case. Payne was represented by Greg Case, who declined to comment on the proceedings.

After Payne's August 2011 arrest, Case issued a statement saying his client was praying for Isi, adding that they agreed with Baker that Isi had 'overstepped boundaries' by becoming involved in an improper relationship with Payne's wife.

At the time, Case said that his client had not run or hidden, but instead consulted police soon after the incident and was told by at least one police officer to go home.

Isi, a native of Nigeria, is a member of the Missionary Society of St. Paul, an order of priests founded in 1977 in Africa.

Court records show that, in February, attorney Anthony Ifediba filed a civil suit on Isi's behalf against Payne and his insurance company alleging motor vehicle negligence and willful and wanton conduct.

The suit describes the events that led up to the crash, saying Payne was speeding to catch up with Isi's car and was driving without thought for the safety of nearby pedestrians and drivers.

It also outlines the injuries Isi sustained in the crash, saying he was "knocked, shocked, strained, sprained, bruised and contused in and about his body."

Isi was paralyzed, missed time from work, spent a great amount of money on medical treatment and lost his vehicle, the lawsuit claims.

Isi seeks compensatory and punitive damages from both Payne and Alfa Insurance, claiming the company has failed to pay for treatment of his injuries as Payne's policy stipulated. The civil case has not been resolved.