Local Pastor To Be Charged In Online Sex Scheme

LAKE ORION (WWJ) - A Lutheran pastor who allegedly offered to be a sex coach for minor girls over the Internet will be facing charges.

Fifty-one year-old William Bendert is scheduled to plead guilty later this month to his role in an online sex scheme.  The charges came to light in US District Court filings.   

Bendert is the head pastor of King of Kings Lutheran Church in Lake Orion. He is charged with using the Internet to entice an 11-year-old girl for sex.

According to court documents, Bendert used online chatrooms to contact who he thought were the mothers of young daughters. He asked the mothers if they were interested in having him sexually train the girls. Unbeknownst to him, the mothers were actually undercover FBI agents.

If convicted, Bendert faces 10 years in prison. He is due back in court on March 24.