The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.
Gabriel “Gabe” Mills, guest experience pastor at Journey Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin, stands accused of capturing an intimate representation without consent.
The Milwaukee Sentinel Journal reports:
A Kenosha pastor has been charged with two felonies after, prosecutors say, he used a man’s cellphone during a group meeting to send himself nude photographs of the man’s wife.
Gabriel E. Mills, a 41-year-old former pastor at Journey Church in Kenosha, was charged Wednesday with two counts of capturing an intimate representation.
The Kenosha Police Department issued a statement Wednesday announcing that Mills made his initial appearance in court that same day where bail was set at $7,500.
According to a criminal complaint, a detective met with a married couple on Sept. 28 regarding Mills, who they accuse of using the husband’s cellphone and sending himself nude or partially nude photos of the man’s wife without her consent during a life group meeting the night of Sept. 22.
The husband said Mills had his phone because he needed help downloading an audio book. An analysis of the phone found that the texting and AirDrop apps were used while Mills had the phone, according to the complaint, and police found two photos of the man’s wife on Mills’ phone when they executed a search warrant on the device.
Mills was listed as a “Guest Experience Pastor” on the Journey Church website but has since been removed, the complaint states. He was terminated on Sept. 29 and arrested on Sept. 30.
As a condition of his bail, Mills cannot contact Journey Church or its staff members, the couple and cannot posses a device of others.
Pastor Kevin Taylor with Journey Church, whose Kenosha campus is located at 10700 75th St., issued a statement.
“This news has come as a great shock to our church and school community,” he said. “We hold our leaders to the highest standards of moral conduct, and any violation of these values is deeply troubling. We terminated Gabe’s employment upon learning of the allegations that led to his arrest.
“Our hearts go out to anyone who may have been impacted by this situation. We are offering counseling and pastoral care to those affected. We ask that you respect their privacy during this time.
“We are committed to transparency and accountability throughout this process and will await further information from the authorities.”
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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