A writer and former academic specializing in Christian perspectives on marriage and s£xuality has been apprehended following allegations of child s£xual abuse. John Kent Tarwater, aged 55, who previously taught finance at Cedarville University, a Baptist institution in Ohio, is now facing serious felony charges.
Tarwater has been formally accused with eight s£x-related felonies, stemming from claims made by a minor victim. The charges, filed on March 27, 2026, include two counts of rape, three counts of s£xual battery, and three counts of gross s£xual imposition.
The accused author has published two books targeting Christian readers: "Marriage as Covenant: Considering God’s Design at Creation and the Contemporary Moral Consequences" (2005) and "Business Ethics: A Christian Method for Making Moral Decisions" (2019).
Investigators allege that Tarwater began s£xually assaulting the victim, who was reportedly under the age of 13 at the time, in 2019, continuing the abuse for approximately six years. Authorities claim that Tarwater used force or threats of force to compel the victim's compliance.
Cedarville University communicated with its students and staff via email last week, stating, “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."
The university further confirmed that 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 read. The institution noted, "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."
Law enforcement is actively seeking additional information and urges anyone who believes they might be a victim of Tarwater's actions to come forward.
The university's message also encouraged individuals with knowledge of "any inappropriate behavior from this former professor" to contact their Title IX office.
Concluding the communication, Cedarville stated, "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. We encourage you to pray for healing for all affected by this situation."
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