'Youth pastor' pleads guilty to eavesdropping

From: James M. Atkinson <jm..._at_tscm.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:40:15 -0400

'Youth pastor' pleads guilty to eavesdropping

FLINT
THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION
Friday, October 13, 2006
By Paul Janczewski

FLINT - He called himself "Pastor Paul."

But Paul L. Gagnon will soon be called an inmate after pleading
guilty Thursday to an eavesdropping charge for spying on a male
roommate and the roommate's girlfriend.

Gagnon, 51, of Flint, a former self-described youth pastor, also
pleaded guilty to eight additional charges for using his computer to
possess and manufacture child pornography pictures.

"It was in everyone's best interest that this matter was resolved,"
said attorney Erwin F. Meiers III, who represents Gagnon. "There was
a possibility other things could surface that would have led to him
being charged with life offenses."

Assistant Genesee County Prosecutor Gladys Christopherson said police
uncovered thousands of pictures of child pornography on Gagnon's
computer, which could have led to thousands of additional charges.

She said Gagnon had a short window Thursday in which to accept the
plea deal or reject it and face additional charges.

While his original eavesdropping charge is a 2-year felony, several
new charges added after testimony began in a preliminary examination
carry up to 20 years in prison.

Because Gagnon has a federal bank fraud conviction in 1994, he faces
a longer prison sentence because he is considered a habitual offender.

He waived the conclusion of the preliminary examination before Flint
District Judge Michael D. McAra and now faces an Oct. 23 circuit
court arraignment, where he is expected to plead guilty to nine charges.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors will end a forensic examination
of his computer and equipment and not add new charges.

Christopherson said police and prosecutors are not prohibited from
trying to identify and notify possible past victims seen in the
multitude of pictures already discovered.

The case began when a teen who lived with Gagnon found an elaborate
spy camera system that led to Gagnon's bedroom. He later found
pictures of himself getting dressed, of Gagnon standing over him and
taking pictures as he slept nude, and pictures of the teen's
girlfriend using the toilet.

Court records indicate Gagnon and the boy were partners for Christian
Custom Home, a repair service they began several years ago.

Police and prosecutors learned that Gagnon worked as a youth pastor
at the boy's church in the past.

While later cleaning out Gagnon's residence, relatives found computer
equipment containing child pornography and turned that over to
police, which led to the new charges.

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