Will Johnson, 2|42 Michigan pastor and director arrested and fired after revealed to have installed hidden cameras inside Brighton unisex church bathroom to peep on other workers.
A Michigan church pastor has been arrested and fired after allegedly confessing to putting a hidden camera inside a unisex church bathroom to peep on other employees, according to his church.
Will Johnson, 37, the worship pastor director of 2|42 Community Church in Brighton, north of Ann Arbor, was arrested Friday when a staff member found the hidden camera inside ‘a non-public, unisex bathroom in the (church’s) backstage area,’ executive pastor of ministry operations Eric Rauch told the Detroit News.
Confronted by other church leaders, Johnson of Howell, who worked for the church for five years, confessed to placing the camera device in the bathroom — prompting his immediate dismissal, Rauch said.
Church leader targeted specific church employees
Johnson then also admitted to Livingston County sheriff’s detectives that he had hidden the camera in the church bathroom.
The sheriff’s office says the bathroom was used by church staff and volunteers and was not typically accessible to the public. Detectives do not believe there are cameras hidden elsewhere in the church.
During questioning, Johnson who according to his Facebook profile is married, told detectives he’d placed the camera in the bathroom intermittently over the past two years, targeting specific church employees known to use that bathroom.
‘We are shocked and deeply saddened by this situation, as the protection, safety and privacy of every person who enters our church is our priority,’ Rauch told the Detroit News.
The church ‘is cooperating fully with the sheriff’s office investigation and is taking proactive steps, including engaging with a third-party investigator, to ensure the safety of all our facilities,’ he said.
Forensic analyses scheduled of all electronic devices owned by church leader
In a statement posted on social media Sunday, church leaders said, ‘We are shocked and deeply saddened by this crime and violation of our community. The protection, safety, and privacy of every person who enters our church is our priority. We are fully cooperating with the sheriff’s office as this is an ongoing investigation.’
2|42 Community Church has seven locations throughout Michigan and will be bringing in a third-party company over the next few days to conduct a sweep of all locations to ensure that there are no other hidden devices.
Following his arrest, all electronic devices were seized from Johnson’s home and will undergo forensic analysis according to CBS News.
Johnson was charged on Sunday with tampering with evidence, surveilling an unclothed person — a felony — and using a computer to commit a crime.
The former church leader remains held at the Livingston County Jail, where his bond is set at $250,000.
If convicted, Johnson faces up to four years in prison for the tampering with evidence charge, up to two years for surveilling an unclothed person and up to two years for using a computer to commit a crime.
Johnson’s next court hearing is set for Sept. 24.
The sheriff’s office says all known victims have been identified and notified.
