Man Fakes Religious Beliefs to Get More Expensive Prison Meals

Court rules Mich. prison can stop man's kosher meals

Aug 14 2009

A Michigan prison inmate who says his kosher meals were illegally suspended isn't getting any relief at a federal appeals court.

In 2005, convicted killer Phillip Berryman stopped receiving costly kosher meals at St. Louis Correctional Facility after he was caught buying non-kosher munchies at the prison store.

The 66-year-old Berryman said the snacks were for another inmate, but that defense was rejected. He sued, claiming his suspension from kosher meals was a burden on his religious liberties.

In an alternative defense Berrymanclaimed he had talked to God about the insufficiency of the prison meals and asked God's permission to supplement his diet with non kosher items from the prison store and God had approved.

The appeals court this week said Michigan has a legitimate interest in maintaining discipline and ensuring that only inmates with "sincere beliefs" participate in the kosher program.

Berryman, who is serving a life sentence, now is at a Michigan prison in Jackson.