Youth pastor arrested for allegedly stealing rent payments

A local youth pastor may not be practicing what he preaches.

William Townsend was arrested this week for allegedly stealing $20,000 in rent money from tenants at an East Point apartment complex where he worked, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Townsend worked as an office manager at the Greenwood at Marketplace Apartments, where police allege he stole money from tenants’ accounts by altering money orders so the money went to him instead of the complex, according to the news station.

On the side, Townsend also sometimes preached to young people at Jackson Memorial Baptist Church in Atlanta. Church elders told Channel 2 they were sad and shocked to learn about the allegations against Townsend.

A lot of the tenants were unaware of the alleged theft, police said, but the money has since been re-credited to their accounts.

Townsend faces charges of swindling and theft by conversion. He received a $50,000 signature bond, according to the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office. His next scheduled court date is Oct. 19.

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