Bail set for former director of Faith Haven program

Bail was set at $20,000 for the former director of the Faith Haven sober- living facility Saturday, while the site's last seven residents left peacefully after getting beds elsewhere, the property owner said.

A day after her arrest, Director Gwendolen "Wendy" Johnston, 42, remained in the Charleston County Detention Center on a charge of obtaining goods by false pretense greater than $5,000.

During her bail hearing, a jail official said Johnston had been ill. In the video feed from the jail to magistrate's court, Johnston wore a white medical mask that covered her mouth and nose. She spoke in a weak voice as she acknowledged a judge's questions but said little else. She did not have a lawyer in court.

A Mount Pleasant police affidavit alleges that on June 3, Johnston forged the signature of Faith Haven President Charles Dukes in the purchase of a 2007 Chevy Suburban.

"She presented a forged limited power of attorney that falsely granted her permission to purchase" the vehicle valued at nearly $38,500, the affidavit read.

Johnston's bail hearing came as the last residents of the Faith Haven program living in a rented home at 64 Rutledge Ave. in downtown Charleston left the property without incident. The group of recovering alcoholics and drug addicts was given until 3 p.m. to vacate.

The property had housed Faith Haven since August, but the project's future fell into doubt last week after Dukes fired Johnston, terminated the lease and filed paperwork dissolving Faith Haven as a corporation.

Dan Mengedoht, whose family owns the home, spent Saturday doing some light clean up, saying the house was not too messy and that food and other items found would be donated to charity and help groups. "We're just glad we've got everyone placed in an appropriate facility to house all their needs," he said.

Johnston, a former car dealer, founded Faith Haven late last year. She moved the program into a Daniel Island condominium complex, but it was evicted in August for failing to pay rent, according to court documents and her former landlord.

The Mengedoht family said they allowed the program to move into the mansion because they thought they were helping a good cause. Neighbors, however, soon complained about noise, disruptions and lack of supervision.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551, or skropf@postandcourier.com.