Former Pastor Found Guilty Of Stalking Ex-Member
A former pastor from a church founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. has been convicted of stalking a former church member and divorced mother of two. Sergio Guardia, who previously led the Spanish-speaking ministry at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, was found guilty earlier this month on two counts of burglary and one count of stalking.
Guardia was arrested in 2023 after unlawfully entering the home of Marie Columna, a woman who had left the church in 2016. Reports indicate that Guardia had been stalking her for several years. Reflecting on the ordeal, Columna expressed a sense of empowerment following the conviction, telling WSET, “I feel like I’ve regained the power he took from me.” She added that despite the influence of the church and its leaders, individuals like her also hold power.
The 48-year-old former pastor is scheduled to be sentenced in August. Guardia, who had once worked for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), began making unwanted advances toward Columna after her divorce, prompting her to install security cameras at her home.
In November 2023, these cameras captured Guardia unlawfully entering Columna’s residence, leading to his arrest and charges of two counts of breaking and entering, along with one count of stalking. Following the arrest, the SBC of Virginia confirmed Guardia had resigned from his position in November and issued a brief statement, noting they were aware of his legal situation but would offer no further comment. They added that they were praying for the Guardia family during the difficult time.
In February 2024, a judge formally certified the charges against Guardia and issued a protective order for Columna and her children. Columna’s friend, Ashley Easter, expressed her support for the protective order, highlighting the seriousness of the situation. Easter described Guardia’s actions as a form of “spiritual abuse,” given his position of authority over Columna, which left her more vulnerable to his misconduct.