Business manager at Valley Church says builder stole thousands of dollars; arrest warrant issued

A brand new church stands on Pierson Boulevard in Desert Hot Springs.

It was built after much trial and tribulation.

Church officials say a builder who posed as a licensed contractor is to blame for their troubles.

“If I saw him on the road, I’d pull him over and do a citizen’s arrest if I could,” said Dave Nunn, the church’s business manager.

Nunn took over as business manager at Christ Lutheran Church in July of 2013,

While reviewing financial records, Nunn says he discovered congregants were ripped off in building their new house of worship.

“I’m angry, very angry, and very disappointed and hurt,” said Nunn.

Before breaking ground for the new church, Nunn says Michael Lester Mullins approached church officials with an offer to build it.

Church officials accepted, and signed a contract with Mullins valued at nearly $600,000.

But Nunn says he later discovered Mullins was not a licensed contractor, and was using a contractor’s license number belonging to someone else.

But that was just the beginning.

“He put on a great presentation and the church really felt that their prayers had been answered. Here was someone that was going to help them build a church and be able to do God’s work in the community,” said Nunn while talking about Mullins.

The accusations against Mullins include padding invoices for sub-contractors on the building project, and pocketing upwards of $125,000.

In fact, the felony complaint against Mullins alleges he “took, damaged, and destroyed property of a value exceeding $200,000”.

Nunn says the work Mullins did complete on the building was shoddy and substandard.

Nunn and Senior Pastor Paul Miller acknowledge church officials made many mistakes in their building project, and in selecting their builder.

Nunn said, “everything they could have done wrong they did”.

They ended up spending $2 million to build the church, which had an initial price tag of $900,000.

“If this church was taken back in foreclosure and we were locked out, there is no other building in this community. It could mean the loss of the Lutheran Church in this community,” said Nunn.

Nunn says the church, with 169 members, now faces a debt of $2 million.

Nunn and Pastor Miller said “redemption is available” for the accused in this case.

But, they want justice.

“He is a thief and a crook,” said Nunn.

CBS Local 2 spoke to Michael Mullins by phone, who said he won’t comment on the accusations against him.

Mr. Mullins also does business under the name “Robo Mike”.

A Commander at the Desert Hot Springs Police Department said they are not looking to arrest Mullins, because the church is in an unincorporated area of Desert Hot Springs, and said the “Riverside County Sheriff’s Department should make the arrest in this case”.

A deputy for the Sheriff’s Department told CBS Local 2 that the Desert Hot Springs Police Department should make an arrest.

We will continue to follow this case, and provide updates as to if, and when, Michael Lester Mullins is arrested.