KENOSHA, Wis. – Gabriel Elisha Mills, 41, was the Guest Experience Pastor at Journey Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin until he was charged with unauthorized access to intimate photos located on a church member’s phone September 23.
Mills was employed at Journey Church until he was arrested and charged with two felony counts of capturing an intimate representation without consent and was granted a $7,500 release bond. According to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Inquiry, Mills was booked on September 30 and released October 2.
According to the official criminal complaint filed with the Kenosha County Circuit Court on September 22, 2024, the victim and her husband along with their children attended a group activity held at the Mills’ home. Under the guise of downloading an audiobook to the victim’s husband’s phone, Mills allegedly AirDropped two photographs of the victim to his phone. The victim saw Mills’ phone screen and upon recognizing an image of herself immediately left the home with her family. Mills allegedly followed the victim, including blocking her path while she tried to collect her children and repeatedly apologizing and then stated that the image was not that of the victim but of his wife. Mills continued to follow the couple to their vehicle while apologizing and informing them that she was mistaken.
The victim’s husband is employed by the Racine Police Department and requested that his phone be downloaded to determine if anything had been transferred from the phone and how it had been done. The victim’s husband told police that Mills had kept his phone in his possession for a “really long time” and would have found the images in text messages between him and his wife. However, Mills would have had to search through over 1,150 images to obtain the photos in question. The victim’s husband also informed police that he had received a phone call from Mills at 1:13am the day after the alleged incident. Mills stated that “I wish I could prove to you that I am telling the truth. I didn’t go into your photos app or any other app. I was only in the Audible app … the photo [that the victim] saw was the most recent thing on my camera roll and must have came up because I hit the camera roll when I had the camera open … Goodness, I believe God has placed you guys in our path to be a blessing to care for you. He has even spoken to me clearly about that … I am stupid but I did not send any pictures.” When police contacted Mills’ wife, who apparently was unaware of the alleged incident, over the speaker phone Mills denied the allegations stating that he was a pastor and ‘would never do such a thing.’”
Lead pastor Kevin Taylor learned of the allegations against Mills on September 28. Speaking with Mills, Taylor instructed him not to attend church the following day. Mills was terminated from his position due to a breach of the church’s code of conduct, with Taylor stating that the allegations were “believable enough.” In a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Taylor said “this news has come as a great shock to our church and school community. 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.”
According to his Instagram account which has been deactivated, Mills depicts himself as a loving and dedicated family man. On August 7, Mills wished his wife a happy anniversary, stating that in “20 years. [name withheld], you are even more wonderful and beautiful today. So many amazing days together. And yes, a few hard days. But I have enjoyed it all. I wouldn’t change any of it. 20 years down.” He glories in the joys of being a father.
Mills faces two class I felony charges carrying potential fines of up to $10,000 each with a maximum sentence of three and a half years in prison per count.
Persons accused of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.