Trial Set for Son of Evangelist Cerullo

The son of San Diego evangelist Morris Cerullo will go on trial Oct. 12 on charges that he tried to steal an air-conditioning unit from a store.

Mark Stephen Cerullo, 33, the minister’s youngest son, pleaded not guilty to burglary and attempted grand theft charges Tuesday in San Diego Superior Court.

Cerullo almost had a warrant issued for his arrest Tuesday, as he didn’t appear on time at his scheduled arraignment.

A prosecutor asked Judge David Gill to issue a warrant, but the minister’s son arrived about 45 minutes later. Gill told Cerullo to appear in court on time next time.

Cerullo, who is free on $4,000 bail, declined to say who bailed him out of jail after his July 29 arrest or to comment about the case to reporters.

The Rev. Morris Cerullo, who is planning to buy the PTL ministry left by Jim and Tammy Bakker, said earlier this month that he was not going to post bail for his son.

Neither parent appeared at the arraignment.

Cerullo is accused of posing as a Home Depot employee at the Sports Arena store and trying to leave with an air-conditioning unit without paying for it.