SPRINGFIELD — The administrative leader of Lutheran churches in numerous central Illinois counties, Rev. Michael W. Mohr, remains in jail following his arrest on one count of producing child pornography.
Mohr, 54, of Springfield, was charged Wednesday, according to U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus of the Eastern District of Missouri. He appeared in court Thursday in St. Louis and waived his right to a detention hearing, according to court records. A charge set forth in a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The arrest followed a search of Mohr’s Springfield residence, during which authorities reported finding a storage devices that contained videos of three juvenile victims, according to an affidavit.
A residence in Vandalia that is also used by Mohr was searched as well. Authorities said they discovered two hidden cameras in the residence — one disguised to look like a Bluetooth speaker and one that looked like a wall clock, according to the affidavit.
Court records showed that police in Vandalia began investigating after a juvenile reported noticing a camera disguised as an electronic device charger in a hotel bathroom. The juvenile told police Mohr had also stood over him and masturbated, according to the affidavit.
Mohr is president of the Central Illinois District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He was elected to a second term in the post in September. Mohr is based in Springfield and responsible for the oversight of about 148 congregations of Lutheran churches, according to the district’s website. He was still listed as president on the website as of Friday, January 30, 2026.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI online at tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-225-5324. The
FBI field office in St. Louis and St. Louis County Police are investigating the case with assistance from the FBI field office in Springfield and the Vandalia Police Department.
