William Eugene Johnson, 37, of Howell, fired Friday from 2|42 Church in Brighton after admitting to placing a video recording device inside a unisex restroom, was arraigned Sunday by Livingston County District Judge Daniel B. Bain, and is currently being held in the Livingston County Jail on $250,000 bond.
Johnson has been charged with three felonies: surveilling an unclothed person, destruction of evidence, and use of a computer to commit a crime. A probable cause hearing has been set for Tuesday, Sept. 24, in front of Judge Shauna Murphy.
A church staff member found the video recording device in a bathroom of the church’s Brighton campus at 7526 Grand River Ave.; that particular bathroom was intended for use by church staff and volunteers, and is not readily accessible to the public. Johnson admitted to church leadership that he had placed the video recording device in the bathroom; he was immediately fired, and 2|42 Church leadership immediately contacted the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives learned that Johnson confessed to 2|42 church leadership to placing the camera in the bathroom with the intent of recording individuals without their knowledge. According to a release from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, a search warrant was executed at Johnson’s home by detectives, and all electronic devices were seized. These devices are pending forensic analysis.
Detectives from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office arrested Johnson at his home and lodged him at the Livingston County Jail. While being interviewed by detectives, Johnson admitted to placing the camera in the church bathroom, and said that he has done so intermittently for the past two years, targeting specific individuals known to use that specific bathroom.
The Sheriff’s Office said all known victims have been identified and notified.
If found guilty of the charge of surveilling an unclothed person, Johnson faces imprisonment of not more than two years or a fine of not more than $2,000, or both. On the charge of destruction of evidence, Johnson faces a maximum of not more than four years or a fine of not more than $5,000 or both. And on the charge of using a computer to commit a crime, Johnson faces imprisonment for not more than two years, or a fine of not more than $5,000 or both.
This incident remains under investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau.
