A pastor operating a ministry within a community known for its swinger lifestyle among Florida’s senior residents has found himself at the center of a legal storm. Leslie Williams, who also authored a book about nurturing spousal love, was arrested on Wednesday, accused of being married to multiple women.
The 62-year-old was apprehended at The Villages, a vast retirement community, as reported by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. His arrest is linked to an outstanding bigamy warrant issued in Georgia.
Williams is currently detained without bond, classified as a fugitive from another state. His legal difficulties are tied to charges originating from Rockdale County, Georgia.
“Florida marriage records confirmed that Leslie Williams was already legally married at the time he entered into another marriage,” said a spokesperson from the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office to Fox News Digital. “As a result, a warrant was issued for Leslie Williams on bigamy charges.”
Concerns came to light when a complaint was lodged with the Haines City Police Department in Florida, alleging Williams’ involvement in bigamy. The investigation was subsequently transferred to Georgia after it was discovered that his earlier marriage had been registered in Rockdale County.
Concerns were first raised when a complainant reported the alleged bigamy to the Haines City Police Department in Florida, officials said. The case was later transferred to Georgia after records showed Williams’ previous marriage had been certified in Rockdale County.
According to Williams’ Facebook page, the pastor had indicated he had been married for years, dating back to at least 2018, before a recent December post announced a new marriage to a woman named Cindi.
“Thanks for all the wonderful comments referencing my saved, beautiful and talented wife, Mrs. Williams!” he wrote in the post, which featured a photo of the woman as his updated cover image.
One friend, however, reacted to the celebratory news with some skepticism.
“Wow I thought you were already married. Congratulations!!” the commenter wrote.
A mugshot displays 62-year-old Florida pastor and marriage advice author Leslie Williams. (Sumter County Sheriff’s Office)
When another friend asked if the announcement was real, Williams responded, “Yes preacher!!!! THE HAPPIEST MAN on earth!!”
However, activity on his Facebook page suggests the relationship may have turned rocky in the months that followed.
The cover photo featuring his new wife was removed roughly two months later and replaced with an image of a car, according to his account activity.
His relationship status was also changed from “married” to “single.”
Documents show the warrant for his arrest was then issued on April 3 by the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia.
Williams is currently being held for extradition at the Sumter County Detention Center in Florida in accordance with the warrant stipulations.
Residents dance in the square of the Villages retirement community outside of Orlando, Florida, on October 4, 2016. (RHONA WISE/AFP via Getty Images)
The arrest came after the pastor had published a 2017 book titled “Love Her Like This: Loving Her Has Never Been Deeper.” According to its summary, the book aimed to foster a “never-failing” love by emphasizing biblical commitments to strengthen marriages.
“In a time where there is a high divorce rate in the church, LHLT shows men [the] depth of Christ’s love for His bride as an example for every man to love his bride with the same strength, sacrifice and commitment,” a cover poster for the book stated.
The 62-year-old also described himself as “an apologist and teacher of the word of God with relevant and timely messages for the body of Christ,” according to his book.
He also runs Leslie Williams Ministries located within The Villages, his website said.
According to the Associated Press, The Villages is one of the largest retirement communities in the world located outside of Orlando, where long-running rumors of swingers, public sexual encounters and unusually high rates of sexually transmitted diseases have surfaced over the years.
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