A disturbing case has emerged involving Daniel Kellan Mayfield, a former youth pastor at Gowensville Baptist Church in Landrum, South Carolina.
Disturbing Case of Mayfield
The 35-year-old pastor is now confronted with nearly 60 criminal charges for allegedly secretly recording women and girls within the church premises. Mayfield is accused of abusing his position and privileges by installing hidden cameras in church bathrooms and changing rooms, with victims as young as 14.
Initially charged on June 1 with five counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and one count of voyeurism, Mayfield’s legal situation has since intensified. Additional charges, including sexual abuse of a minor, have been filed against him, with the latest charges brought on July 7. Mayfield has not entered a plea in response to these serious accusations.
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HuffPost obtained a redacted incident report from the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, revealing that Mayfield confessed to secretly filming youth group volunteers in the church’s bathroom on multiple occasions. Furthermore, it has been uncovered that Mayfield also worked as a wedding videographer, exploiting this role to capture unsuspecting brides and their bridal parties during two separate weddings in April 2019 and September 2021. Hidden cameras were allegedly set up in the church’s changing room, violating the privacy of these individuals without their knowledge.
Upon learning about the incident of moral misconduct on May 27, the leadership of Gowensville Baptist Church took swift action by terminating Mayfield’s employment and promptly reporting the matter to the police. The church’s website statement emphasized its unwavering commitment to providing a safe worship environment and safeguarding all individuals involved in their events.
According to online court records, Mayfield has been detained without bond at the Greenville County Detention Center since June 5.