Former pastor sentenced after admitting to hiding camera in Livingston County church bathroom Camera discovered by church staff No description found
BRIGHTON, Mich. – A former worship pastor director was sentenced to prison after a camera was found inside a bathroom at a Livingston County church.
Previous coverage: Former pastor admits to hiding camera in Livingston County church bathroom
The camera was found by staff in September 2024 in a backstage bathroom at 2|42 Community Church , located off Grand River Avenue in Brighton.
Officials said the church’s worship pastor director confessed to placing the camera and was fired.
William Johnson pleaded guilty to child sexually abusive activity, two counts of possession of child sexually abusive material, seven counts of using a computer to commit a crime, four counts of surveilling unclothed person and one count of tampering with evidence.
He was sentenced on May 22, 2025, to 68 months to 20 years in prison.
The church has a page on its website responding to the incident, and it provides resources for victims.
Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.
About the Author Samantha Sayles headshot
Samantha Sayles is an Oakland University alumna who’s been writing Michigan news since 2022. Before joining the ClickOnDetroit team, she wrote stories for WILX in Lansing and WEYI in Flint.
Drone video over Detroit River ▶ 1:53
Drone video over Detroit River
Think twice before saying 'I'm not hurt' ▶ 0:32
Think twice before saying 'I'm not hurt'
Crews work to clear side streets after heavy snow ▶ 1:14
Crews work to clear side streets after heavy snow
Family seeks answers after hit and run ▶ 1:06
Family seeks answers after hit and run
U-M gets a new president - what's next? ▶ 0:48
U-M gets a new president - what's next?
How snow fleas get their name ▶ 0:27
How snow fleas get their name
No charges for guard in Southfield bar shooting ▶ 0:47
No charges for guard in Southfield bar shooting
Residential road concerns: When will the snow be cleared? ▶ 0:30
Residential road concerns: When will the snow be cleared?
Plowing Metro Detroit roads: What took so long? ▶ 1:13
Plowing Metro Detroit roads: What took so long?
Machado gifted Trump Nobel Peace Prize in White House meeting ▶ 1:14
Machado gifted Trump Nobel Peace Prize in White House meeting
Family: CPS failed 5-year-old Ethan Belcher ▶ 0:44
Family: CPS failed 5-year-old Ethan Belcher
Carlos Eats Detroit at Pho Lucky in Detroit ▶ 2:09
Carlos Eats Detroit at Pho Lucky in Detroit
Wayne County vows better snow plans after chaos ▶ 0:45
Wayne County vows better snow plans after chaos
Why did Metro Detroit get so much snow? ▶ 2:08
Why did Metro Detroit get so much snow?
Shawnte Passmore checking road conditions on Jan. 15 ▶ 1:35
Shawnte Passmore checking road conditions on Jan. 15
Road conditions in Oakland County on Jan. 15 ▶ 1:38
Road conditions in Oakland County on Jan. 15
Winter weather advisory for Southeast Michigan! ▶ 0:39
Winter weather advisory for Southeast Michigan!
New speed camera rules for Michigan drivers ▶ 0:21
New speed camera rules for Michigan drivers
Belleville woman still living like this year after fire ▶ 0:48
Belleville woman still living like this year after fire
Trump flips off Ford worker at Rouge Complex visit ▶ 1:16
Trump flips off Ford worker at Rouge Complex visit
President Trump visits Detroit Tuesday ▶ 1:51
President Trump visits Detroit Tuesday
Detroit shooting, stabbing leaves community in shock ▶ 1:19
Detroit shooting, stabbing leaves community in shock
High Detroit taxes: Key questions for homebuyers ▶ 1:18
High Detroit taxes: Key questions for homebuyers
Chase ends with deputies killing unarmed driver ▶ 0:34
Chase ends with deputies killing unarmed driver
President Trump arrives at Detroit Metro Airport ▶ 0:45
President Trump arrives at Detroit Metro Airport
Previous photo Next photo