Bryan pastor faces multiple zoning violations, more serious crimes may have been committed on the premises.

While a Bryan pastor faces multiple zoning violations for allowing people to live at his church, documents released by the city allege other, more serious crimes may have been committed on the premises. Chris Avell, pastor of Dad’s Place, on S. Main St., pled not guilty earlier this month to 18 counts of zoning violations dating back to November of last year. The trial is set for Feb. 9. A pre-trial hearing has been set for Jan. 30. On Sept. 30, an investigative report states an official with the nearby homeless shelter The Sanctuary reported to Bryan Police they believed a sex offender was staying at Dad’s Place or in the parking lot. An officer spoke to the individual and told him he could not sleep in his vehicle in a city parking lot, officials say. The individual said he would try to get something figured out and didn’t know it was a city lot. The officer also talked to Avell, who allegedly admitted he knew the person was a sex offender and he was trying to find him a place to live. The story is making headlines nationally.