About this episode

The episode discusses the conviction of evangelist Benjamin Garlick and his wife for child sex crimes and the subsequent legal developments in their case.

Support the Show: Patreon.com/PreacherBoys ✖️✖️✖️ Traveling evangelist Benjamin Garlick and his wife Shaantal Garlick have been convicted of child sex crimes in Rutherford County, Tennessee — nearly three years after I first covered their September 2023 arrest. In this episode, I revisit my original reporting and break down everything that's happened since: the March 2024 reindictment that added new charges, the delayed trial, the August 2026 guilty verdict, and Judge Barry Tidwell's sentence of life in prison without parole for Benjamin Garlick. Shaantal Garlick was convicted of facilitation and child neglect charges and is now in custody as well. Both will be sentenced on their remaining charges November 10, 2026. This case involves an IFB (Independent Fundamentalist Baptist) traveling minister who preached across Texas, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas, and was supported by ministries including First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana. Law enforcement identified multiple victims during the investigation and specifically appealed to Hispanic religious communities, where Garlick focused much of his ministry, for anyone with information to come forward. ✖️✖️✖️ CONNECT…

People in this episode

Host: Eric Skwarczynski

Topics covered

• child sex crimes
• IFB evangelism
• legal proceedings
• victim advocacy
• religious communities

Keywords

• Benjamin Garlick
• Shaantal Garlick
• child rape
• IFB
• evangelist
• Rutherford County
• legal case
• victims
• sentencing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana

Places: Rutherford County, Tennessee

More episodes of Preacher Boys Podcast

• Reacting to Pastor Eddie Lapina's Purity Culture Sermon at FBC Hammond's Youth Conference · August 23, 2026 · 30 min
• BIG ANNOUNCEMENT — I’m so glad I don’t have to keep this a secret any more! · August 20, 2026 · 5 min
• Children's Ministry Director Told Undercover FBI Agent No Children Are "Too Young" to Rape · August 17, 2026 · 11 min
• "Pay your pastor first, pay your bills second!" | These sermons on giving are something else... · August 16, 2026 · 32 min
• Joseph Duggar's Trial Around the Corner + MAJOR UPDATE in Child Endangerment Case · August 12, 2026 · 13 min
• How Abusive Pastors Get Power and Keep Power in Churches · August 5, 2026 · 21 min

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