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Tennessee pastor sentenced to life in prison for raping girl, 5, with help from wife
NY Post ^ | 08/20/2026 | Stepheny Price, Fox News

Posted on 08/22/2026 9:27:37 AM PDT by DFG

A Tennessee pastor who spent years traveling the country for his ministry will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a jury convicted him of raping a child, while his wife was found guilty of facilitating the abuse, authorities said.

Benjamin Garlick, 35, was found guilty Monday of seven counts of aggravated rape of a child, six counts of aggravated sexual battery, one count of solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor and two violations of Tennessee’s Child Protection Act after a two-week trial in Rutherford County.

Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell sentenced Garlick to life in prison without the possibility of parole on the aggravated rape convictions, according to the Murfreesboro Police Department. He still faces sentencing on the remaining convictions on Nov. 10.

Garlick’s wife, 32-year-old Shaantal Garlick, was convicted of two counts of facilitation of aggravated rape of a child and two counts of aggravated child neglect.

She is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 10.

The case began in August 2023, when the Murfreesboro Police Department’s Special Victims Unit launched an investigation into the sexual abuse of a child who was just 5 years old at the time.

Police said the abuse had occurred over several years.

As detectives dug deeper, they identified two additional victims, according to police.

Investigators also determined that Shaantal Garlick knowingly neglected a victim in a way that affected the child’s health and welfare and assisted in the sexual abuse, police said.

“The Murfreesboro Police Department thanks all members of the Child Protective Investigative Team (CPIT) for their tireless work throughout this investigation and trial, ensuring the victims’ voices were heard and justice was served,” Det. James Wilkinson, lead investigator, said after the convictions.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Religion
KEYWORDS: benjamingarlick; murfreesboro; pastor; shaantalgarlick

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1 posted on 08/22/2026 9:27:37 AM PDT by DFG
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To: DFG

https://www.dailymail.com/crime-desk/article-16064875/benjamin-shaantal-garlick-sexual-abuse-child-pastor-tennessee.html


2 posted on 08/22/2026 9:28:12 AM PDT by DFG
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To: DFG

Should have been an Islamic illegal asylum applicant. In Minnesota.


3 posted on 08/22/2026 9:29:18 AM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (Do the racist Islamics use their Communists as dupes? Or do the racist Communists use the Islamics?)
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To: DFG

Pedophilia is an incurable sickness. I just can’t imagine doing something like that. Neither can his new buds in prison. Jailhouse justice will get him sooner rather than later. His beautiful bride will find the women prisoners equally hospitable.


4 posted on 08/22/2026 9:31:50 AM PDT by Midwesterner53
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To: DFG
I would have preferred drawing and quartering but I guess this will do. Hope she gets a life as well.

No touchee the kiddees.

No. No. No.

5 posted on 08/22/2026 9:32:44 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (I just want FReepers to READ THE ARTICLE. And then think 30 secs before pounding keyboard.)
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To: DFG

FIVE YEARS OLD????


6 posted on 08/22/2026 9:35:23 AM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: DFG

I volunteer for the Firing Squad, please!


7 posted on 08/22/2026 9:36:20 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (When your Supreme Leader is easily whacked by Jews, reconsider how Akhbar your Allah is!)
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To: DFG

Unbelievable that a woman would aid and abet such cruelty against a little girl. That is beyond sick.


8 posted on 08/22/2026 9:37:03 AM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they control you. )
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To: DFG
IMG-0280
9 posted on 08/22/2026 9:38:08 AM PDT by broken_clock (Go Trump! Prayers answered!)
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To: DFG

I had a family situation that I finally understood these 50 years later. Long story that ends with approximately:

“You can go kill yourself today in the manner or your choosing, or tomorrow the last thing you see will be me shoving your severed penis down tour throat before I gouge your eyes out. But I’ll make sure you don’t bleed out too fast so you can remember that vision through the pain.”

That’s what my Dad did, give or take.

Dude took the option and offed himself.


10 posted on 08/22/2026 9:40:15 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (When your Supreme Leader is easily whacked by Jews, reconsider how Akhbar your Allah is!)
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To: Uncle Miltie

That’s the sanitized version. The reality and back story are far more wacked.


11 posted on 08/22/2026 9:42:36 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (When your Supreme Leader is easily whacked by Jews, reconsider how Akhbar your Allah is!)
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To: aquila48

It’s satanic and unholy.


12 posted on 08/22/2026 9:56:01 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: DFG

I hope his time in prison is short, after a long session of prison justice, andhis time in Hell is eternal.🔥


13 posted on 08/22/2026 9:56:29 AM PDT by Mastador1
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To: DFG

May their time in prison be long and unpleasant.


14 posted on 08/22/2026 9:57:17 AM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: DFG

letting him live, encourages more.


15 posted on 08/22/2026 10:07:22 AM PDT by Diogenesis (Si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: DFG

Oh look! Another Pedo Pastor.

Surprised is no one.

G-d is in His Heaven, and we will all face Judgement the end.
Of that I am certain.

The rest is just creepy people grifting for cash.


16 posted on 08/22/2026 10:12:18 AM PDT by Macoozie (Roll MAGA, roll!)
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To: Midwesterner53

I understand that many times sub-humans like this end up at facilities like FCI Englewood , or similar,where they have sex offender management programs. Since the percentage of the population is high in similar sub-human behavioral issues the targetting for removal of that type of sub-human is lower than in “regular” prisons.


17 posted on 08/22/2026 10:16:36 AM PDT by Roos_Girl (The world is full of educated derelicts. - Calvin Coolidge)
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To: DFG

Disgusting! I hope she receives life in prison as well.


18 posted on 08/22/2026 10:20:10 AM PDT by 1035rep
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To: DFG

One for the some people just need killing file.


19 posted on 08/22/2026 10:24:38 AM PDT by OldHarbor
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To: broken_clock

that needs to be on a tee shirt.


20 posted on 08/22/2026 10:26:38 AM PDT by ronniesgal (can FR please get a "like" button and a "block" button? Please.)
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