Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - An expert who authored books for Christians about the ethics of marriage and s£xuality has been arrested for r@ping a child, Us Weekly has learned.
John Kent Tarwater was once a finance professor at
Cedarville University, a Baptist school in Ohio.
Tarwater, 55, is facing eight s£x-based felonies stemming
from allegations made by the minor victim.
He was formally charged on March 27, 2026, with two counts
of r@pe, three counts of s£xual battery and three counts of gross s£xual
imposition.
Tarwater published two books for Christian readers —
2005's Marriage as Covenant: Considering God’s Design at Creation and the
Contemporary Moral Consequences, and 2019's Business Ethics: A Christian Method
for Making Moral Decisions.
He is accused of r@ping a victim younger than 13 starting in
2019. He s£xually assaulted the victim for six years, investigators
alleged.
Authorities contend Tarwater compelled the victim to comply
using force or threatening force.
Cedarville University sent an email to students and staffers
last week, explaining, “We were informed in July 2025 that Dr. Tarwater was
under investigation concerning allegations. Due to the nature of the
investigation, he was immediately placed on administrative leave and restricted
from coming on campus."
Tarwater "was dismissed from his contract" in
October.
“Today we were informed that Dr. Tarwater was indicted by a
Greene County Grand Jury and arrested on eight felony counts, including r@pe,
gross s£xual imposition, and s£xual battery," the email added.
"Our understanding is that these charges do not involve
anyone Dr. Tarwater met or interacted with as a university professor. Even so,
we desire to be transparent and ensure the safety of everyone on campus,” the
message continued.
Police have asked anyone who believe they may be a victim of
Tarwater's to come forward.
Cedarville’s email also urged anyone aware of “any
inappropriate behavior from this former professor” to contact their Title IX
office.
“This is difficult news that is grievous to read, but we
share it because the safety and well-being of our students will always be a
guiding priority,” reads the email.
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