Pastor and Wife found guilty of raping a child, will spend their life behind bars

Tennessee Traveling Pastor Sentenced to Life for Child Rape; Wife Convicted as Accomplice

A traveling minister who spent years preaching across the U.S. will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Following a two-week trial in Rutherford County, a jury convicted 35-year-old Benjamin Garlick of raping a child, while his 32-year-old wife, Shaantal Garlick, was found guilty of helping facilitate the abuse and severe child neglect.

Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell sentenced Benjamin Garlick to life in prison without parole for seven counts of aggravated rape of a child. He was also convicted of six counts of aggravated sexual battery, solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor, and child protection violations, with additional sentencing set for Nov. 10. Shaantal Garlick was taken into custody after the verdict and faces sentencing on the same date.

A Horrific Investigation Unfolds

The investigation began in August 2023 when the Murfreesboro Police Department’s Special Victims Unit looked into the sexual abuse of a 5-year-old child. Detectives quickly discovered that the abuse had spanned several years and eventually identified two additional victims.

Police determined that Shaantal Garlick knowingly neglected the child and assisted in the abuse.

"The children of Rutherford County are safer because of the compassion, dedication, and commitment of everyone involved in this case," lead investigator Det. James Wilkinson told The Meridian.

Posing as a Faith Leader

The couple’s public image stood in stark contrast to their crimes. Benjamin Garlick worked as a high-profile evangelist for La Espada, a ministry founded by his grandfather that targeted Spanish-speaking communities.

The Meridian reviewed archive records showing Garlick spent years traveling to churches across Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, and Texas. His wife met him at a youth conference as a teenager and joined him in full-time ministry work.

Both Benjamin and Shaantal Garlick are currently held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center as authorities encourage any other potential victims to come forward.