KENOSHA, Wis — Gabriel Mills, a 41-year-old pastor, is accused of sending intimate photos of a victim to himself without consent in Kenosha.
Mills is facing two charges of capturing an intimate representation without consent.
According to the criminal complaint, the Journey Church pastor borrowed the victim's husband's phone to download an audiobook app for him, but instead looked for intimate photos of the victim and then sent them to himself without permission.
The victim, her husband and their children went over to Mills' home to attend a "life group" — a program through the church — with other members of the congregation.
It appeared to be just another meeting with nothing out of the ordinary, at least until about 8 p.m. when Mills asked the victim's husband to borrow his phone so he could download the audiobook app.
While Mills was seemingly downloading the audiobook app, he supposedly went through the husband's messages and sent intimate pictures of the victim to himself.
According to the complaint the victim went down to the basement to check on her kids and when she came back, she saw Mills clutching his phone and hiding the screen from view.
They talked for a little while and during the conversation, his screen lowered just enough for her to see an intimate photo she took of herself. The victim knew the photo was only sent to her husband and there was no way Mills could have access to it.
When Mills realized the victim saw the photo, he turned "white as a ghost," according to the complaint. Mills tried to convince the victim the photo was of his wife and it was not her. The victim and her family left Mills' home.
Watch: Kenosha pastor charged after allegedly sending intimate photos to himself:
The victim later asked her husband if he had given Mills his phone, and told her that he had for Mills to download an audiobook app, but he had it for a "really long time," according to the complaint.
Mills justified having the phone for so long with the need to change the settings so they could both use an app with the audiobook at the same time. That is when the victim's husband left Mills with the phone to finish setting everything up.
Later, the victim's husband messaged Mills and asked him if he went through text messages to find intimate photos. Mills denied it. The pastor sent the husband a photo of his wife and claimed that was the photo the victim saw.
Police investigated the incident and searched Mills' cell phone after receiving a warrant and found two photos the victim identified as herself, according to the complaint.
The victim's husband said the photo the victim described was early on in their text messages with one another, and that Mills would have needed to see over a thousand images before he got to it.
Mills was arrested on Sept. 23rd by police. He made an initial appearance in court where a $7,500 cash bond was set for his release.
Other members of the church may have been victimized, according to police.
Anyone with information can contact Detective Eric Traxler at (262) 605-5223.
Resources are available for crime victims here.
Journey Church provided this statement to TMJ4
Dear Journey Church and Christian Life School Family,
One of our former pastors, Gabriel Mills, was recently arrested for charges related to capturing intimate material without consent. This news has come as a great shock to our church and school community. Our community, Journey Church and Christian Life School is founded on the biblical principles of trust, integrity, and respect for all individuals. These values bind us together and guide our actions. 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. At this time, Gabe is entitled to due process, and we will cooperate with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation. We are committed to transparency and accountability throughout this process and will await further information from the authorities. 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 do not have any evidence to suggest students were affected by this situation. This is a time for prayer, reflection, and healing. We must lean on our faith and each other to navigate through this challenging moment. Let us be reminded of Jesus’ call to love one another, even in times of trial, and to seek the truth with grace. We understand that you may have many questions, and we are here to provide guidance and support. Please feel free to reach out to the church and school leadership with any questions or concerns. Let us continue to seek God’s guidance through prayer as we strive to be a community rooted in love, even in times of hardship. May we remember that our strength comes from the Lord, and may we hold tightly to His promises during this time.
With faith and hope, Pastor Kevin Taylor
Read the full criminal complaint below.
Gabriel Mills Criminal Complaint by TMJ4 News on Scribd
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