As students and alumni of Truett McConnell University gathered for the first of two planned events to protest alleged mishandling of sexual abuse cases at the Baptist school June 5, news came that one of the alleged perpetrators could yet be held accountable in court.
The local Georgia news outlet Now Habersham reported Enotha Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeff Langley would begin reviewing the case file against former university Vice President Bradley Reynolds immediately. Earlier statements had indicated Reynolds might not be in jeopardy of legal action because the statute of limitations for such crimes is only four years in Georgia.
The alleged incidents involving Reynolds and a female student occurred between 2013 and 2017.
Hayle Swinson
Last year, Swinson reported her concerns to the White County Sheriff’s Office and turned over a trove of more than 350 explicit emails Reynolds had sent her. Reynolds apparently lied when he denied sending the emails but county investigators determined the Yahoo account from which those emails were sent was, in fact, his.
In an interview with Now Habersham, White County Sheriff Rick Kelley said he elected not to pursue charges against Reynolds because of Chapter 6 of the Georgia penal code, which prohibits sexual conduct in relationships where one person has power or influence over another, including teachers and students.
“The law specifically excludes colleges,” Kelley said. “The schools referred to (in the code) are K-12.”
Therefore, the sheriff determined he could not bring charges against Reynolds, even though “there’s no doubt that … he used his position to influence and control the relationship.”
Swinson’s attorney, Marcia G. Shein, told Now Habersham she believes the sheriff misread the statute and students and professors at a college could be covered by it.
This is only the latest twist in a fast-developing story that has rocked the small university affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Trustees will hold an emergency meeting tomorrow to dig further into who knew what and when. There are widespread calls for the resignation of university President Emir Caner, who is accused of ignoring or covering up the allegations.
Now Habersham also reported on a sermon Reynolds delivered in a university chapel service where he said it was the responsibility of women to keep their husbands from sexually straying by “looking their best.”
This echoes the language of other complementarian pastors in Baptist life and beyond who take a male-centric view of marriage and sexuality.
Now Habersham reported: “In the same sermon, he said, among other lessons, that women plan and look forward to their weddings all their lives, while men look forward to and plan their honeymoons. At the conclusion of the sermon, which was recorded, Caner is heard thanking and praising Reynolds for his talk.”
Some female students, including Swinson, expressed disgust over the sermon.
Reynolds left the school in 2024 after the allegations against him were raised with the county sheriff. He is reportedly living and working in Greenville, Texas, which is located northeast of Dallas.
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