DeKalb County

Man charged with kidnapping used to be church minister

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A local minister who was been arrested for attempting to kidnap a teenage girl has been fired from his position at the church.

Channel 2's Tyisha Fernandes dug into Alvin Joiner's past and learned he had a criminal record and was working at the church anyway.

The minister was convicted of two sex crimes in 2007, but was still able to get hired at New Hope Cathedral and Ministries in Stockbridge the next year.

People who attend the church now say they want answers.

“Just like they’re on the cover-up now. All they’re going to do is cover things up going forward,” one churchgoer, who asked not to be identified, told Fernandes.

The woman said Joiner taught the new members class at the church and he always made her feel uncomfortable.

“I thought it was going to be a good experience, but once I attended a couple times and then got an invite to the new members class., i was just an uncomfortable feeling. It made the hairs on your neck stand up,” she told Fernandes.

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On Monday, DeKalb County police officer arrested Joiner for attempting to kidnap a teenage girl outside Miller Grove High School.

Before the girl escaped from his vehicle, she recorded a lewd conversation with Joiner.

Fernandes spoke on Tuesday with the Rev. Richard Leaphart,  who is the head of the church.

Leaphart said he fired Joiner, and the church will now do its own investigation to see if Joiner approached any children or adults inappropriately.

Leaphart said he did a background check on Joiner in 2008 and found nothing.

After looking into Joiner's criminal history, Fernandes found convictions in 2007 for two sex crimes -- solicitation for sodomy, and pandering and idling for sex.

“I feel like something had to happen. Things like this should not be able to go on in our church or neighborhoods,” the churchgoer said.

Joiner was connected to New Hope Cathedral and Ministries for 10 years.

The churchgoer said they hope that, if anyone was abused by Joiner, that person won't be afraid to come forward.