Video catches former megachurch pastor sneaking into woman's home in stalking case
Video catches former megachurch pastor sneaking into woman's home in stalking case
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Virginia megachurch pastor convicted for stalking caught on camera
A former Virginia pastor was convicted of stalking a female churchgoer. Video from 2023 shows him entering the woman's home while she's away.
The former pastor of a Virginia megachurch has been convicted of burglary and stalking after video captured him sneaking into the home of a previous member of his congregation.
A Virginia jury found Sergio Guardia, 49, guilty of the charges on March 12, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 20.
The woman he was convicted of stalking, Marie Columna, told WSET-TV that Guardia entered her home when she was out of town on Nov. 10 and 11 back in 2023. At the time, Columna was a phone notification woke Columna up telling her a man was inside her home, she said.
'I just was yelling, 'There's a guy in my house,'" she said.
Following Guardia's conviction, Columna told the outlet: "I do feel like I've gotten my power back, power that he took."
Guardia's attorney did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on Friday.
Former congregant says trouble started after divorce
Columna told WSET-TV that Guardia was her pastor at the Spanish-language campus of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, until she left in 2016.
She said she left the church because Guardia repeatedly made her feel uncomfortable.
'It all started when my divorce was finalized," she told WSET-TV. "He was coming to my house ... to help me."
And then at some point, it became clear he wanted more. She said that his pattern of stalking went on for around six years before she caught him on camera.
She said the way the church responded to the allegations against Guardia was frustrating.
Thomas Road Baptist Church did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on Friday.
"Their response towards me was negative. They were supportive of him," Columna said, adding that she hopes her story helps others.
"As powerful as that position of authority as a pastor may seem and as powerful as that church may seem, (victims) have power, too," she said.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Pickleball Kingdom is bringing a location to Austell
A pickleball franchise is expanding to Cobb County. Pickleball Kingdom will open a new location at 3999 Austell Road, Suite 501, in Austell. The facility will be about 25,000 square feet and include 10 professional-grade indoor courts. It is expected to open this winter. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Pickleball Kingdom describes itself as the 'primer indoor pickleball franchise,' and includes coaching, youth programs and league tournaments. The company announced in February that it will be launching a major expansion across Georgia, with more than 20 clubs in development. Nithi and Usha Anand are spearheading the expansion in Georgia. 'We are delighted to bring Pickleball Kingdom to Austell and contribute to the development of a thriving pickleball community in this area,' said the Anands in a statement. 'Our vision is to create a welcoming space where individuals can engage in this exciting sport, improve their fitness, and connect with others who share a passion for pickleball.' So far, in addition to the Austell location, Pickleball Kingdom is opening three other locations in Georgia: in Watkinsville at Hog Mountain Road and Macon Highway, as well as locations yet to be determined in Alpharetta and Atlanta. The opening date for the Watkinsville location hasn't been listed yet. Pickleball Kingdom has big plans. It currently has locations in nine states, with more locations targeted for 15 other states, according to the company's website. TRENDING STORIES: Officer hit by car in Carrollton while directing traffic Body found 30 years ago in Atlanta identified as 15-year-old girl 'Senseless': Brothers, ages 13 and 14, accused of Clayton party shooting, posting it to social media [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
'Whip/Nae Nae' child star pleads guilty but mentally ill, gets 30 years for cousin's death
'Whip/Nae Nae' child star pleads guilty but mentally ill, gets 30 years for cousin's death The "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" rapper, 27-year-old Silentó, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to the 2021 death of his cousin. According to court records reviewed by USA TODAY, the musical artist, whose real name is Ricky Lamar Hawk, on June 11 pleaded guilty but mentally ill to four charges: voluntary manslaughter – a reduced charge from his initial malice murder count – aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during a felony crime, and concealing the death of his cousin, 34-year-old Frederick Rooks III. Voluntary manslaughter came with a 20-year prison sentence, while the firearm possession and concealment of death counts entail five years each. Hawk has been in jail since his February 2021 arrest. On Jan. 21, 2012, DeKalb County Police officers responded to a call in Panthersville, Georgia, about 10 miles southeast of Atlanta. Per police, Rooks was found with multiple gunshot wounds and ten bullet casings near him. Hawk was arrested Feb. 1, 2021, after one of Rooks' family members told officers he was last seen with Hawk on a drive back from a friend's house. They were in a white BMW SUV that matched one seen in security footage. Hawk allegedly admitted to shooting Rooks in an interview with police. The prior year, he was charged while living in Southern California for allegedly threatening two people with a hatchet. He'd been on bail after a recent arrest. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Hawk "walked into an unlocked stranger's home" and attempted to strike the two people in the home with a hatchet before one of them managed to disarm him." The case is ongoing. Who is Ricky Lamar Hawk, the rapper Silentó? As a 17-year-old high schooler, Hawk integrated the "whip" and "nae nae" dances into the 2015 hit "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)," which spent 51 weeks on the Billboard Top 100 after its release. It peaked at No. 3. He went on to release a few albums, including a March 2021 record called "Bars Behind Bars" that came out while he was incarcerated. Amid his viral success, Hawk told USA TODAY in 2015, "It was an awesome opportunity making this song and having it where I can go back to school, and people can just be like, 'Wow, you did it.'"
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Woman allegedly opens fire into occupied apartment in Brooklyn: NYPD
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — The NYPD is searching for a woman accused of opening fire into an occupied apartment in Brooklyn on May 26. The incident happened around 2:45 a.m. in front of 327 Warwick Street. More Local News The suspect allegedly fired into the apartment before fleeing on foot, heading east on Liberty Avenue, police say. No injuries were reported. The woman, pictured below, was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black pants, and black Crocs. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
