Kip Billups is going to court on charges stemming from camping outdoors.
Billups, an Amarillo homeless advocate and founder of Amarillo Brown Bag Runs, could be facing jail time for camping at Amarillo City Hall. According to Billups, the advocate is facing a charge of camping outdoors on public property and obstruction of a passageway during his protests at City Hall.
Although the penalty for the charges Billups is facing will be fines, he says that he will not pay the fines and will instead face jail time if he loses his trial.
"I will not pay a fine. My invisible friends would not be able to pay a fine," Billups said in a statement. "Neither will I do community service. I was doing community service when I was ticketed. If we lose the case I will be in Potter County jail on my 50th birthday. If we win I'll be at Moondoggy's eating a calzone."
Information provided to the Amarillo Pioneer by Billups appears to show that his next trial will be set for September 20th through the Amarillo Municipal Court.
Billups (LEFT) and activist Chris Seright during Billups' protest
Photo by Tom Warren