Three Christians, Sean and Rachel Bohnet and Gabriel Rench, who were arrested in Moscow, Idaho for participating in an outdoor worship service during the Covid pandemic, have received a total payout of $300,000 from the city, CBN reports.

The three were arrested and detained for several hours for not wearing a mask as they participated in a Psalm Sing outside the city’s town hall on September 23, 2020, that had been organized by Christ Church.

In addition to the mask violations, the Bohnets were also charged with resisting arrest and obstructing a police officer.

The 20-minute event which had about 200 attendees was organized to protest the city’s mask and social distancing mandates.

However, in January 2021, all charges against the three were dismissed after the Thomas Moore Society, which represented the three Christians, argued that the city and police had violated their First and Fourth Amendments rights.

Thomas Moore Society described the decision to dismiss the case as “a victory for religious freedom and the cherished God-given rights protected by the United States Constitution.”

In the resulting lawsuit brought against the city, U.S. District Court Judge Morrison C. England, Jr. ordered the Moscow city council in February 2023 to reach a settlement with the three Christians.

Once the legal fees are paid, it is expected the three Christians will receive $50,000 each.

Commenting on the decision, Gabriel Rench who serves as a deacon at Christ Church said:

“I think the other thing that brings me comfort is when you read through the book of Acts..it is the Gospel going forth through a series of riots…that was all of Paul’s life and this has only been three years of my life.”

“Jesus went from controversy to controversy, debate to debate, and ultimately death. He endured way more than I did for the Gospel.”

“That was a good model and example for me.“

Though the city agreed to the payout, it has yet to apologize for the illegal arrests of the three Christians.

READ: Christian Man Wins $300k Mask Lawsuit After Arrest at Outdoor Worship Service AND Idaho Christians awarded $300,000 after lawsuit finds city had no right to arrest them for attending church services during Covid