A Florida pastor who publicly presented himself as a marriage expert and author is now facing serious criminal charges after social media posts about his “new marriage” helped trigger an investigation.
Florida law enforcement arrested Leslie Williams, 62, in The Villages, Florida, after authorities acted on an out-of-state warrant accusing him of bigamy. Williams is a self-described pastor and biblical teacher who runs Leslie Williams Ministries, based in The Villages, a large retirement community in the central part of the state.
According to law enforcement and local reporting, Williams presents himself as an “apologist and teacher of the word of God,” and promotes relationship guidance rooted in Christian teachings.
He has also written a 2017 book on marriage titled Love Her Like This: Loving Her Has Never Been Deeper, which focuses on how men should love and maintain their marriages.
Williams didn’t even try to hide it
Williams’ bigamy allegation centers on claims that he was legally married to more than one woman at the same time. In December 2025, Williams publicly updated his Facebook relationship status to indicate he was “married” to a woman named Cindi. He also posted photos and celebratory messages referring to her as his wife.
Those posts drew immediate reactions from followers. One comment—later widely circulated in reporting—read: “Wow I thought you were already married. Congratulations!!”
Other commenters congratulated the couple, while some expressed confusion about his marital history. Williams continued posting about his “wife,” praising her and thanking people for supportive messages.
Williams was arrested in Florida on April 22 after deputies attempted to serve the warrant at his residence. When he was not initially found, officers later located him during a traffic stop and took him into custody without incident.
Williams is currently held without bond at the Sumter County Detention Center in Florida. While he has not been convicted of any crime, he remains in custody pending extradition to Georgia, where Rockdale County authorities will formally prosecute the bigamy charge.
Williams could face felony charges
Bigamy laws vary by state, but in Georgia, it is typically treated as a felony offense, which can carry prison time if a conviction is secured. Williams has not publicly entered a plea, and court records have not yet indicated whether he has retained an attorney.
If prosecutors in Georgia prove that Williams was legally married to more than one person at the same time, he could face felony penalties, including imprisonment, probation, or fines, depending on the circumstances and prior record.
However, the case will depend heavily on documentation of marriage records, timing, and whether any marriages were legally valid or dissolved before subsequent unions.
Published: Apr 28, 2026 06:15 am