Alphonso Joseph, a 48-year-old Palm Coast resident and pastor associated with several Bunnell churches and spiritual organizations, was arrested Friday and charged with molesting a 15-year-old boy in a vehicle on the Matanzas Woods Golf Course.
Joseph himself may have inadvertently attracted sheriff’s deputies to the area: the 911 center had received a noise complaint late the night of July 14. The caller complained of loud music in the direction of the golf course.
A sheriff’s deputy arriving at the scene found a gray Toyota Camry somewhere near or on the course. When the deputy shined a light on the vehicle, it shook, and the deputy then saw two males pulling up their pants. One of them was a 15-year-old boy. The other was Alphonso.
The boy told deputies that he’d met Joseph on a dating app that same day, that he’d provided Joseph with his address, and that Joseph then picked him up and took him to the area of the golf course, where Joseph performed oral sex on him, according to Joseph’s arrest report.
Another deputy spoke with Joseph separately. He said he and the boy were “just chillin.” He was shirtless, but he said he had taken off his shirt only because it was hot. But he, too, conceded that he met the boy on Grindr, an app generally frequented by gays, but that ostensibly requires users to be at least 18–a requirement easily circumvented. Joseph said the boy told him he was 18. According to his arrest report, he admitted to engaging in sex with with the boy. That would amount to unlawful sexual activity, a second degree felony.
The case recalls that of Victor Williams, the former Bunnell restaurateur who, two years ago, at 43, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after engaging in unlawful sex with a 16-year-old boy he’d met on Grindr, and claimed was 18. Not knowing a person’s actual minor status is not a defense under Florida law. Williams had hosted the boy at his home, and spiked his drinks. The victim in that case described Williams as a predator.
Several years ago Joseph had founded a church called Vision Cathedral, at at 2323 North State Street, Unit 3/27, according to his Facebook page, though no such entity was registered with the state Division of Corporations. He has been listed as a principal with Vision Soul to Win Crusade Ministries, a Palm Coast ministry established in 2005 and still active. He is also listed as a principal with Vision Covenant Connection Inc., established in 2018 in Palm Coast, according to Division of Corporation records.
His title then as now is “overseer,” which is generally understood to mean the same thing as a bishop or an elder of a church. He also refers to himself as a “senior pastor.”
In one video from 2019, he is seen rapping to children with Bishop Frederick Lawrence. The two of them “had to show these young MC they still can do it,” the caption above the video read. “Give your life to him, and he’ll take care of everything,” Joseph raps.
He joined Destined for Greatness Ministries, at 1600 North State Street in Bunnell, two years ago, according to Bishop Chadrick Joseph. “Right now he is on sabbatical,” Chadrick Joseph said today, referring any other inquiry to the sheriff’s office. “He’s been with me for two years.” He said he did not know much about the incident.
In a July 15 statement to the Sheriff’s Office, Chardick Joseph wrote: “First, our prayers are with both the victim and the with the accused. When I received the phone call alerting me of the situation I immediately went into prayer. At this time Mr. Joseph has been placed on sabbatical and is seeking counsel from a legal team as well as spiritual counsel from the leadership teams at our local fellowship. We as a church are committed to working with the Flagler County [Sheriff’s] Department in the ongoing investigation, offering any requested information.”
Alphonso Joseph, of 75 Blare Drive in Palm Coast, was booked at the Flagler County jail on July 14 on a charge of lewd or lascivious battery, and on $15,000 bond. He was released the same day after posting bail. He has been ordered to have no contact with any minors.
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neighbors says
Yikes this Perv lives 12 houses down from me, Fantastic… Not…
Brother Bill says
I thought only Catholic Priest did those kind of SICK things. Obviously as long as “JESUS” name is used all is welcomed .
Beat the Bishop says
At least I know what the term sabbatical now means…. another hole in one at the golf course.
Jimbo99 says
I wouldn’t doubt the minor lied to the adult about their age. Is this really a case of innocent children needing protections if the minor is a liar and consensual as present, as a participant in the act. And it ties back to should critical race theory/gender whatever that’s being spun as, does that need to be in the K-12 ? My point, if a minor can make the call/explore sexuality at a school, why not at Matanzas Woods golf course ? It’s just another public location ? Connecting dots, one leads to another eventually & then we see this headline, cause & effect.
Steve says
You are kidding me right. Left field out of bounds on that comment LMAO. You have issues You need help
Samantha Samuel says
Lol. Exactly! I’m glad someone said it!
ForeverfFlorida says
What about moral values that pastor should be full of? Out of wedlock intimacy with a man doesn’t sound very morally to me.
bob says
you do not know a damn thing about the subject matter — blame the minor, how dare you !
Pam says
Are you having some kind of episode? I can’t really understand most of this word salad except to know that you are in need of serious help. A minor cannot consent to sexual activity with an adult. What does critical race theory have to do with sexual assaults? But I’m sure you have no idea what critical race theory even is. I think your red hat is too tight and is causing some brain damage.
Been There says
The age of consent is the age of consent. Any adult engaging in any sexual activity with a child under that age, is a pedophile. Kids legally can’t give consent.
Jimbo99 says
Yet that’s exactly what happened at Lover’s Lane on this Grindr date. I don’t condone any of it, there does need to be a fitting punishment though for minors when they catfish the old guy. Perhaps in 33 years, the 15 yo is 48 & hooking up thru Grindr and he meets his doppleganger ?
bob says
again ! wrong ! — minors can’t vote, drive, enlist in military, and on and on, yet you still can’t get it thru your fishnet stem cell that 50 states in the USA have laws against your thinking
Dan Savane says
You had to show your true “color” by going out in left field and weave “CRT” (which you probably know as much about as your disgusting despicable ORANGE MAGGOT Icon) in this despicable episode. How would you feel if this guy had your 15 yr old daughter on a golf course with his penis in her mouth, vagina, or anus? You are apparently either an active, prospective, or closeted pedophile.
Roy Thomas says
It does not matter if the minor gave a wrong age. The man had NO RIGHT to practice immorality whatsoever! It is no consensual business. When we become Christians, God owns our bodies. How can we take the temple of God and make it a house for Satanic stuff. How can this man go home and live with such dirt in his mouth. This thing just stinks!
R. S. says
Human, all too human! Let’s hope that there was no violent coercion. But before we engage, we should ask the age.
JAFFO NERR says
HE WILL BE TRUMP’S NEXT SECRETARY OF EDUCATION!
RANGER says
WHY DOES TRUMP HAVE TO BE DRAGGED INTO THIS, the pastor is most likely a DEMOCRAT
Dan Savane says
And you drew conclusions about his political affiliation based on what?
concerned parent says
This man I met at my place of employment, had told me he worked with male youths in a ministry, had invited us to a bbq and wanted to get to know my 14 year old. I am so glad I did not take my child around this “pastor”.
Howard Appel says
15 years old and the holy man is 48 years old. He is a predator, but I am certain that (i) his ministry was anti-gay, anti-trans, anti-abortion and (ii) jeayesus will forgive him so all is good.
A.j says
Not good. I can’t bring judgement because we are all sinners. Don’t know everything about the situation, don’t want to know. My question is why not a cheap hotel, if a person don’t disturb the peace, no cops needed. Did the boy lie? Sad situation. A 15 year old with that type of app.
Bishop says
Agreed an overwhelming amount of black men are gay and they hide it because of a number of reasons. Embarrassment, peer ridicule etc. Just embrace who you are and go with it. If only they would have chosen a hotel instead of a parking lot this would not have exposed another brother.
Roy Thomas says
forget about the matter or judging. We have to judge. There is no verse in the bible saying that you must not judge. Read Matthew 7. It is speaking to the hypocrite. When a man becomes a Christian, fornicating is not allowed. The person’s body becomes a temple for God, not a whorehouse for the devil. Get that straight. How can I do this wickedness and sin against God, should be the Christian question. But But there are many in the church with a form of godliness and no God in them. They are hypocrites. They are false teachers. They are false prophets. Jesus said in 2 Peter 2:1 that they will come into the church. They bring pain on the true church. They bring reproach. They bring shame. They bring unhappiness. They cause the enemy to paint the church with a dirty brush. They lead people into HELL. More will come. Just like Judas they will come and associate with Christians. But by their fruits, they shall be known. Think of the pain of the wayward 15 year old and the pain of this man’s relatives and the lasting pain in the Church. Oh God of grace, help us!
Blow me says
seriously? . .a 48 year old man doesn’t have seconds thoughts about performing oral sex on a young man who is no doubt at least 30 years longer than him ?
Let’s not forget the preacher preying on children/teens/Young adults.
Is this a black on black crime ? I guess it’s not just the white Catholics.
Samantha Samuel says
Sadly, not only is he pastor for several churches, he also is a staff member in a Palm Coast GROUP HOME with vulnerable people. Only GOD knows who else he’s taken advantage of.
Samantha Samuel says
ADULTS*
CC says
How long has this been going on for and who all new without turning him in. PC is growing too fast STALEY and concerned citizens keep up the good work.
Matt says
I never let my children anywhere near the church….thank god.
Leila says
OMG. Sadly, pedophiles are attracted to all places where there are kids. Both lives are over here. Unbelievable that so few see that. This is rapidly becoming a very sick world.
This man should not have been let out on bail. We have several judges here who need to stop covering for one another. Next time it might be your child.
joseph says
why are 15 year olds on grinder pretending to be 18
bible believer says
false shepherds everywhere masquerading as angels of light.2nd cor 11-14
satan controls them, having a form of godliness but deny the power therof
Speaking from experience says
As a victim of something similar i could say they both need help cause the 15 year old grandparents need to talk him to see someone don’t sweep it under the carpet and paint him all innocent he did catfish but the 48 year old still should have known he wasn’t 18 and grinder need to find a way to do a age verification i know on these apps people that’s older or overweight sometimes get blocked when they hit guys up so when they get the first yes they jump on the opportunity and most of the guys that say yeah to them is charging money they what you call gay for pay so the grandparents don’t need to just let it go the next person they catfish may not be so kind if they pull up they just might do more then suck him off