Former King's Way Pastor Charged with Simple Battery in Douglas County

The former pastor of a Douglasville church, who resigned in October amid allegations of sexual abuse from 20 years ago in Michigan, will face simple battery charges in Douglas County.

Douglas County Solicitor General Matthew Krull announced Friday it has filed a formal accusation of four counts of simple battery against William “Bill” Max Wininger, alleging “four separate instances of unwanted physical contact.”

Wininger, formerly the pastor at King’s Way Baptist Church in Douglasville, was arrested Thursday night.

“The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office spent the past 10 months investigating this individual,” Krull said in a press release. “It is my job to make sure that everyone in Douglas County is afforded the opportunity to live free of unwanted and unsolicited physical contact.”

The Solicitor’s Office said the alleged contact happened between Aug, 20, 2012 and Feb. 28, 2013. The investigation centered on “improper and unwanted sexual conduct” by Wininger that was directed toward church employees.

Bond was set at $10,000 Friday morning in a Douglas County Magistrate Court hearing, with conditions that he not contact any of the victims who have come forward, their families or the church and school. Wininger must also undergo psychosexual evaluation and treatment. Wininger posted bond and was released from jail around 3 p.m. Friday.

The charges are misdemeanors, according to the Solicitor General’s Office.

“My office takes these allegations very seriously and remains intent on ensuring that victims of this type of behavior get the day in court that they deserve,” Krull said in the press release. “Citizens of Douglas County need to know that my office is going to hold accountable those who use their positions of power and influence in the community to shield themselves from their criminal acts.”

According to a WSB-TV report last year, Wininger resigned in October after allegations of sexual abuse in Michigan surfaced on the Internet. He was not charged. He had been pastor at the Douglasville church for 15 years.