Detroit pastor Sheffield acquitted in domestic violence case

DETROIT (AP) - A Detroit pastor charged with misdemeanor domestic violence involving his estranged wife has been acquitted.

Court records show a Wayne County jury on Tuesday returned the not guilty verdict in the case of the Rev. Horace Sheffield III. He also was acquitted of interfering with a crime report.

The charges stemmed from a Jan. 10, 2014, incident at the home they shared in Detroit. Both said at the time that they were in the midst of a divorce.

Sheffield is pastor of New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church. In a statement, he says he was "portrayed as a physical abuser and even though the charge itself only alleged I removed a cellphone out of someone's hand."

Sheffield last year unsuccessfully sought the U.S. House seat held by Congressman John Conyers.