Sleazy Journey Church Ex-Pastor Charged For Secret Photos

October 16, 2024 EMMANUEL ADEBAYO AJIBOLA

Gabriel Mills, the recently fired guest experience pastor at the multisite Journey Church’s Kenosha, Wisconsin, campus who was arrested for allegedly sending himself nude photos of a female congregant, was arrested again for taking intimate pictures of a friend’s wife without permission in 2023.

The friend’s wife, Jane Doe 1, was named in a criminal complaint referenced by Fox 6 and came forward to authorities on October 4.

According to the complaint, the second victim’s husband told authorities that he considered Mills, a 41-year-old married father of five, a “friend” after meeting him at church. He added that they frequently spent time together, including the day before Mills was arrested on September 30 for allegedly sending himself nude images of another female congregant from her husband’s cell phone.

Jane Doe 1’s husband stated that during his meeting with Mills on September 29, the sacked Journey Church pastor acknowledged checking the man’s work laptop to gain access to his mobile, according to Fox 6. Mills admitted that he sent himself personal images of the man’s wife. During that chat, Mills also informed Jane Doe’s husband that he thought he would go to jail.

Mills’ bond for this most recent offence was set at $5,000. He was charged $2,500 less than $7,500 in the first case. According to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department, Mills posted bail for the second offence on October 10.

The former Journey Church pastor was arrested on the latest charge last Wednesday, just seconds after pleading not guilty at a preliminary hearing to two counts of capturing an intimate image of a congregant.

“This morning, Gabriel Mills was arrested during his preliminary hearing. Following the publication of the original media release, a new complaint came forward. According to Lt. Josh Hecker of the Kenosha Police Department, detectives were able to find evidence on Gabriel’s phone that supported the complainant’s charges against him.

According to the initial complaint against Mills, which was shared on Facebook by the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, a female congregant, identified as CMB, and her husband, who is also a Racine Police Department employee, identified as TAB, attended a life group meeting at Mills’ home with their children and other church members on September 22.

She told investigators that at 8 p.m. during the meeting, she heard her husband ask Mills for help in downloading an audiobook app on his cell phone. As she said she went downstairs to get her children and returned a few minutes later she saw Mills holding his phone close to his chest, so it could not be seen.

She stated that as she spoke with Mills, he lowered his hand and phone to his side, revealing a sexual photo of her.

Also, She recognised the photograph as one she had taken of herself and had only shared with her husband. She said she felt angry that her private photo had wound up on the pastor’s phone and wondered what other pictures of her he might have.

The congregant and her husband then filed a complaint with the local police. Police revealed evidence that Mills used AirDrop to send two explicit pictures from the husband’s phone to his.

A spokesperson for Journey Church told WISN 12 that the church leaders are “aware of the ongoing investigation and are cooperating with authorities.”

Police are investigating if there are more victims.