Market owner cooperating

A Clovis man submerged in a year-long battle with the city over complications with his “free market ministry” said Wednesday he will obey court orders to remove unsightly items surrounding his property.

In a court order filed Wednesday, Municipal Judge Jan Garrett noted that Henry Parmenter, 74, is attempting to comply with the city’s nuisance code and has made progress ridding the outside of his property of used furniture and appliances.

Parmenter has been operating for about five years what he calls a “free market ministry,” a service in which he gives away clothing, appliances, furniture and toys to anyone interested. He said about 10 people show up daily — the number increasing since news of his case went public in a newspaper story on July 27 — to pick up the free goods.

“Naturally, I’m going to do what she told me to do. Do you know what it’s like to not obey a woman’s orders?” said Parmenter, who operates his ministry out of his home on the 1300 block of Reid Street.

Parmenter has until 3 p.m. today to remove a metal desk, two washing machines, remaining mattresses and upholstered furniture surrounding his property, the court order shows.

He said Wednesday night all items mentioned in the order have been removed. He also said he will move an array of toy-filled boxes from his back yard into his home, even though Garrett said that’s not part of the order.

Garrett said if Parmenter does not comply with the order she will bring him back to court, where he could face a $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail for contempt.

“He didn’t comply with the order by the time I (originally) told him to, but I’m just happy it’s being resolved,” Garrett said.

Parmenter is a registered sex offender and said since news of his court battle went public he has received about three phone calls from teenagers harassing him in connection with his 1992 rape conviction. He said he spent five days in jail after the arrest and later received six years probation.

“That’s why I got into the criminal ministry system, because when you get out of jail you’re not accepted,” Parmenter said.

“That’s why I got involved in the free market ministry, because it gives me the opportunity to help those who don’t have anything.”

Parmenter said he called police after one of the teen harassment calls, but they could do nothing since the callers’ identities are not known.

Parmenter has been involved in a series of court cases in the past decade.

He showed up in Garrett’s court last August and was fined $300 with $250 suspended on the condition he remove an array of unsightly items from his front yard and adjacent properties and that he keep his garage door closed at all times.

Garrett said he complied last year, but after a few months violated the code again.

He is now charged with violating the public nuisance code by keeping property in such a manner and length of time that it would annoy and endanger the comfort, health and safety of the public.

While Parmenter in the past has been slow to follow court orders and quick to transgress, he said now he’d like to call a truce with the city and obey the judge’s orders.