Michigan pastor who hid camera in church bathroom learns prison sentence

BRIGHTON, Mich. – A former worship pastor director was sentenced to prison after a camera was found inside a bathroom at a Michigan 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.