Pastor Robert Wagley’s Arrest: the Legal Questions

[phkrause]

On August 14, 2025, Mobile County deputies arrested Pastor Robert Michael Wagley of the St. Elmo Seventh-day Adventist Church on three counts of intimidating a witness. According to jail records and witness accounts, several church members who had assisted law enforcement in a separate criminal investigation were subsequently stripped of their church duties and escorted off the property. The sheriff’s office alleges these actions were meant to punish cooperation with authorities.

https://atoday.org/pastor-robert-wagleys-arrest-analyzing-the-legal-questions/

Alabama Pastor Arrested for Alleged Witness Intimidation

Robert Wagley, the lead pastor of The Saint Elmo Seventh-day Adventist Church, was arrested on Thursday, August 14, for three counts of intimidation. The arrest is the latest development in an escalating conflict within the Irvington, Alabama, church. 

https://atoday.org/alabama-pastor-arrested-for-alleged-witness-intimidation/

[Gustave]

From the A.T. article and various other online sources the S.D.A. Church is affirming that they knew the man was a sex offender, however, they (the Church) had taken steps to protect the youth. The other thing we should consider here are possible political considerations. 

There was a significant push within the Democratic Party to re-classify what are today known as pedophiles into "Minor Attracted Persons" (M.A.P.'s). This is similar to the ideology which militantly asserts "TRANS WOMEN ARE WOMEN", "boys can menstruate" and other similar wokeism's. 

At this point the political narratives of the involved remains unknown - we'll hope for the best outcome possible for all involved. 

[Asia Joe]

Quote

“According to MCSO, on January 16, 2025, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office received a report from a concerned member of the Saint Elmo Seventh Day Adventist Church regarding registered sex offender John Penrod. The report indicated that Penrod had been volunteering at the church and serving on the Greeting Committee alongside two juveniles, both under the age of 13.”

Wow, that is very serious /s

I am pretty sure I know this pastor from my days in Michigan. He was a great guy. 

Let me explain something about the sex offends list. You can NEVER get off.

I have a relative who was accused of a crime by a young teen girl. He was arrested and charged in federal court. His court appointed female attorney and the female prosecutor told him there was a 90 % chance of conviction. If he would just plead guilty, he could serve two years and get on with his life. THAT WAS A LIE !

He spent two years in jail, with no problems, and met many like him. Coerced into pleading guilty. After he got out, he found out the truth. He was a convicted felon and could not find a job. His old employer would not hire him back. He found a job at their competitor. They like him, and he will stay there. BUT, he could not rent anywhere!  He had to move into a mobile home with his mother until the park was sold, and he had to leave because he was a felon.  If he finds a bunch of money, he can hire an attorney and ask to have his conviction removed.  But he will likely be a felon for life and on that list. 

Mr Penrod is 75 years old. He probably has many stories too.  I don't know, but I suspect the do-gooders are the ones who cause him this trouble. 

I believe the Pastor did the right thing here. I suspect he also consulted the conference. 

I suspect this is not the first time he has had problems with the do-gooders. 

This shaming has gone way too far. 

Jesus would never tolerate it. 

 

 

[Asia Joe]

I suspect this will be a landmark case. The GC may even get involved. 

Quote

This case will likely hinge not on whether Pastor Wagley had the right to discipline church members, but why he did so. If the reason was punishment for cooperating with the law, a jury may be instructed that even pastors are not above criminal accountability when it comes to protecting the justice process.

I don't think the GC will see it this way. I think they will view it as an attack on pastors rights. 

Remember, many of these prosecutors and police child protection agencies, are not normally pro Christian.