A former worship pastor has pleaded guilty to 15 charges related to putting a hidden camera in a restroom at his church. Will Johnson, who had been on staff at the multicampus 2|42 Community Church in Michigan, was first arrested in September 2024.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of sex crimes that some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
Leaders of 2|42 Community Church contacted authorities after a staff member discovered a camera in a bathroom located in the backstage area of the auditorium at the church’s Brighton campus.
Johnson confessed to church leadership that he had placed the camera in the bathroom. His employment was terminated the same day, and he was arrested that evening.
Johnson had worked at the church for roughly five years.
According to WLNS, Johnson told investigators that he had placed the camera in the bathroom “intermittently for the past two years, targeting specific individuals known to use that specific bathroom.”
All of the 2|42 campuses were searched for any other recording devices. Police executed a search warrant on all of Johnson’s electronic devices, identifying and informing all of Johnson’s victims.
2|42 Community Church leaders expressed their commitment to transparency following Johnson’s arrest.
The Sunday after the allegations against Johnson came to light, Craig Ryan, the chairman of 2|42 Community Church’s leadership advisory team, told the congregation, “Just like you, we’re shocked and we’re deeply saddened by this situation, as the protection, safety, and privacy of every person who enters our church is our priority.”
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“We consider this a violation against our entire church,” he added.
