Rev. Marvin Winans Issued With Arrest Warrant After Driving On Suspended License

(Photo: Reuters/Fred Prouser)
Grammy Award-winning brother and sister Gospel recording artists Bebe (L) and CeCe Winans listens as their brother Pastor Marvin Winans speaks and holds a copy of their first album during ceremonies unveiling their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood Oct. 20, 2011.

By Christine Thomasos , Christian Post Reporter

May 25, 2012|12:37 pm

Rev. Marvin Winans reportedly has a warrant out for his arrest, days after prosecutors charged three men with robbing and carjacking the Grammy Award-winning singer.

The warrant stems from driving related offenses allegedly made by the minister, who failed to show up at a March court hearing that was scheduled after he failed to pay tickets. Winans, 54, reportedly received the tickets after he was caught driving with a suspended license and impeding traffic on different occasions.

However, Winans issued a public statement on Thursday to say he was unaware that his license was suspended.

"The traffic issues listed in driver's record that was recently released was in the process of being handled prior to the Wednesday, May 16 incident. The proof of payment and formal letter addressing the issue was submitted," Winans said. "I was not aware of any suspension of license due to change of address. All day-to-day correspondences are facilitated by my administrative staff. If something was a matter of great urgency they would have brought it to my attention."

Erma Byrd, Winan's spokeswoman, vouched for the reverend. "The issue is being addressed," Byrd said. "A lot of that is handled by his administrative team, not by him."

Winans made headlines for being issued a warrant only days after suspects of his carjacking were identified as Montoya Givens, Christopher Moorehead, both 20, and Brian K. Young, 18, according to The Associated Press. The pastor of the 4,500-member Perfecting Church had his SUV stolen while losing a $15,000 Rolex watch, iPhone, briefcase and wallet containing $200 at a Detroit, Mich. gas station last Wednesday.

"I'm just saddened that it has come to this," Winans said after the incident. "This kind of nonsense just has to stop. It's just the savageness of what's happening in the street."