MURFREESBORO, TN — A local couple is preparing to face a long list of felony charges involving the alleged sexual abuse of children, with a trial set to begin in late July. Court records show there are at least 20 charges on file with 16 levied against the man and 4 against the female. 

Benjamin Garlick, a 33-year-old traveling evangelist who preached across Southern states including Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas, is facing a total of 16 felony charges stemming from incidents dating back to February 2021. Garlick was initially arrested in September 2023 following a sealed indictment issued by a Rutherford County Grand Jury. Since then, the number of charges against him has increased significantly.

Among the charges Benjamin Garlick faces are:

• 7 counts of Aggravated Rape of a Child

  

• 6 counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery

• 1 count of Soliciting Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

• 2 counts of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child

While Garlick’s sermons—many of which were conducted in Spanish—drew thousands of views online, few details have been made public about the investigation or how the alleged abuse occurred.

Garlick is currently held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center under an $825,000 bond, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2025. His trial is expected to begin at 9:00 AM on Monday, July 28, 2025, and will span five days before Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell. Witnesses will include detectives, representatives from the Department of Children’s Services, and staff from a facility that specializes in treating victims of child sexual abuse.

Also scheduled to stand trial on July 28 is Garlick’s estranged wife, Shaantel Garlick, who is facing 2 counts of Aggravated Child Abuse/Neglect/Endangerment and 2 counts of Facilitating a Felony. According to T.C.A. § 39-13-518, continuous sexual abuse of a child can involve multiple incidents over time or multiple victims in a short period. Under T.C.A. § 39-11-403, facilitation charges can be brought when a person knowingly helps someone else in some way commit a felony.

Shaantel filed for divorce just 15 days after charges were filed against her, but court records show the motion was denied, possibly due to the ongoing criminal case.

Both Benjamin and Shaantel Garlick were taken into custody on the same day in September 2023. Benjamin will turn 34 years old just 19 days before the start of his trial. Shaantel is 31-years-old. 

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.