Preacher, 35, raped & sexually assaulted girl, 5, in sick campaign of abuse as he’s jailed alongside accomplice wife

A TWISTED Tennessee pastor has been found guilty of raping and sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl with the help of his wife. Benjamin Garlick, 35, was jailed for life while his disturbed partner Shaantal Garlick, 32, also learned her fate for facilitating the horror campaign of abuse. Credit: Murfreesboro Police Department Credit: Murfreesboro Police Department Garlick was found guilty of seven counts of aggravated rape of a child, six counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of solicitation of sexual exploitation of a minor. He was also convicted on two violations of Tennessee’s Child Protection Act after a two-week trial in Rutherford County. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Garlick received life in prison without the possibility of parole but has only been sentenced over the aggravated rape convictions so far. He will learn the result of the remaining guilty charges on November 10, according to the Murfreesboro Police Department. Mrs Garlick was convicted of two counts of facilitation of aggravated rape of a child and two counts of aggravated child neglect. She is also scheduled to be sentenced for all four counts on November 10. After being free on bond during the trial, the woman was taken into custody again following Monday’s verdict, police said. Both she and her husband are being held at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. Most read in The Sun The case began in August 2023, when the Murfreesboro Police Department’s Special Victims Unit launched an investigation into the sexual abuse of a young child. The abuse began when the victim was five years old as cops uncovered it had been ongoing over several years. Detectives would also identify two additional victims, according to police. Detective James Wilkinson, lead investigator, said after the convictions: “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. “The children of Rutherford County are safer because of the compassion, dedication, and commitment each member of the CPIT Team brings to their roles every day.” Garlick was a preacher who primarily focused on the Hispanic community. He helped run La Espada, a Murfreesboro-based ministry for Spanish speakers, according to WSMV. His work allowed him and his wife to travel across the country doing sermons connected with churches in Florida, Indiana, Minnesota and Texas. La Espada was founded by Garlick’s grandfather, Rolando Garlick and later fell under the direction of his late father, Daniel Garlick. He met his wife when she was aged 18 at a youth conference. She soon started working with La Espada and continued until the pair were both arrested in September 2023. Comment now