Former Preacher Arrested for Violating Sex Offender Probation
Registered sexual offender Justin Jovan Thomas, 42, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with violating his sex offender probation.
In August 2012, Thomas was found guilty of two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior and two counts of engaging in a sexual act with a minor. Thomas had several other related charges that were dropped.
Thomas was sentenced to five years in prison followed by ten years of sex offender probation.
Thomas violated his probation by accessing the internet without proper authorization. A search of Thomas’ phone revealed he was using WhatsApp messaging services. Thomas is required to have a safety plan approved and implemented by a qualified practitioner in his sex offender treatment program before accessing the internet.
A 2011 Gainesville Sun article states, “Thomas has been active in local churches and the music scene for many years. A profile of Thomas in the Gainesville Guardian in 2007 noted that he began preaching as a teenager. In 1999, Thomas began a company called Voices of Standard Inc., which included a music school and recording studio.”
The Sun reported that Thomas “asked for forgiveness” after admitting to violating the victim in a meeting with his adult girlfriend, the victim’s mom and her pastor.
Thomas has an arraignment scheduled for March 3.