Two teaching elders from the Presbyterian Church in America are facing criminal charges in separate cases. The first case involves a pastor in Florida who was the driver in a fatal car crash. The second case involves a pastor in Mississippi who has been charged with statutory rape and other related offenses. 

Nicholas Betancourt faces 11 charges stemming from a fatal car crash on February 28 where authorities determined he was driving under the influence. According to a report from Fox 13, Betancourt was arrested on February 27 for driving under the influence. He was released at 9 a.m., on February 28, and later that day, he was driving on a suspended license when he was involved in a crash. The crash killed Dana Rivera, 36, and seriously injured three of her children, a 4-year-old, a 6-year-old, and a 15-year-old.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Betancourt received treatment for injuries at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, where a urine sample showed cocaine, amphetamines, oxycodone and benzodiazepines in his system. He is now charged with vehicular homicide and 10 other offenses related to driving while under the influence and the possession of controlled substances.

Betancourt previously served on the pastoral staff at Christ Central Presbyterian Church. The church released this statement following his arrest: 

We were devastated to hear about the arrest of our former assistant pastor, Nicholas Betancourt, and the circumstances surrounding his car accident on February 28 leading to the death of a woman and serious injury to her children. Nicholas was employed by our church until his resignation on January 24 of this year, and his official pastoral relationship was dissolved by the presbytery on February 8. While we no longer have any official relationship with Nick, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this car accident and all the families involved. In times like this, sacred scripture directs our thoughts to our merciful God.

In a separate case, on Tuesday, March 11, Pastor Christopher Willett of the First Presbyterian Church in Crystal Springs, Mississippi, was arrested and charged with statutory rape, sexual battery, unnatural intercourse, computer luring of a person, and child pornography. 

The police also executed search warrants at the time of his arrest. According to the Clarion Ledger, the arrest was the result of a victim coming forward to authorities. Willett is currently being held in the Copiah County Jail without bond.

Willett was ordained by North Florida Presbytery in 2016 when he accepted a call to serve at Pinewood Presbyterian Church in Middleburg, Florida. In 2017, Willett moved to Mississippi to serve as senior pastor of Columbia Presbyterian Church. In 2020, he was called to First Presbyterian Church in Crystal Springs. Before entering the ministry, Willett served in the U.S. Air Force. 

The church is a member of Grace Presbytery. ByFaith contacted the stated clerk of Grace Presbytery and confirmed that presbytery officers are aware of the situation and have called a meeting for March 25 to address it. The Book of Church Order requires at least 10 days’ notice to convene a presbytery meeting (BCO 13-12). ByFaith also spoke with the elders at the church who said they are praying for everyone who has been impacted by this situation.