Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Will A SI Ferry Preacher's Plea Deal Keep Him Quiet?
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 22, 2010
Modified Apr 22, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 22, 2010
Modified Apr 22, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Has one of the Staten Island Ferry pastors been silenced from preaching to his (involuntary) commuting congregation? SILive reports that Michael Ihedioha (also known as Michael Nwadiuko) has been sentenced to three years probation and is likely to keep mum after cutting a plea deal yesterday to a misdemeanor obstruction charge.
The incident which he was charged for took place last October. According to court papers he had been preaching sometime after midnight on the boat, with his arms outstretched and blocking an aisle. He resisted moving after an officer urged him to multiple times, screamed "You're breaking my arm" to draw attention to his arrest, and then he bit the officer's arm! WWJSay?
While banning him from preaching would be in violation of the First Amendment, a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan said, "we are asking that the defendant use the ferry terminal only for traveling and not engage in behavior seen as harassing other patrons." Though that probably won't put the fear in the other preachers.
Tagged
michael ihedioha
michael nwadiuko
pastor
preacher
si ferry
staten island ferry
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Manhattan DA argues judge shouldn't dismiss state charges against Luigi Mangione
He pleaded guilty to separate charges in federal court this summer.
By
Samantha Max
Published Oct 9, 2026 at 3:44 p.m. ET
Feds blame NYC's sanctuary policies for violent ICE arrest in Marble Hill
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE agents were unaware a child was in the vehicle they fired on during the arrest.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
Feds blame NYC's sanctuary policies for violent ICE arrest in Marble Hill
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE agents were unaware a child was in the vehicle they fired on during the arrest.
By
Arya Sundaram
NYPD rushed man shot by ICE to hospital in police SUV, bodycam footage shows
By
Ben Feuerherd
Pencils down: NYC lawmakers want to switch back to paper tests as state mandates screens
By
Jessica Gould
Penn Station’s future could be determined by midterm elections
By
Stephen Nessen
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .