Traveling Evangelist, Wife Arrested on Multiple Child Sex Crimes

A traveling preacher has been indicted on multiple counts of child sexual abuse, including rape.

Benjamin Garlick 32, and his wife, 29-year-old Shaantal Garlick, both face multple charges in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where Garlick had been helping run a ministry for Spanish speakers, according to WSMV.

The station said a notice on the door of the business said Garlick had received an eviction notice on August 29 for not paying rent to Sword of the Lord Publishers.

In addition to child rape, Benjamin Garlick has also been charged with aggravated sexual battery, sexual exploitation of a child, and continuous sexual abuse of a child. His wife faces charges of facilitation of aggravated rape of a child and aggravated child abuse, neglect and endangerment.

Police said the incidents began in February 2021 and continued through last month, WTVF reported. No details of the incidents were released.

Videos and images online show Garlick preaching at churches in Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas, WSMV said. A GoFundMe has the family asking for money to buy a van for their travels.

Shaantal Garlick was released after posting a $75,000 bond, but her husband remains jailed on a $750,000 bond.

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[Featured image: Benjamin and Shaantal Garlick/Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office]