Former Truett McConnell University Vice President Bradley Reynolds, who became the focus of a years-long alleged abusive relationship with a student and former employee, has been indicted for lying to White County law enforcement in North Georgia.
Reynolds denied having an inappropriate relationship with Hayley Swinson during his interview with a county sheriff investigator in March 2024, following Swinson’s criminal complaint. On Monday, Dec. 8, a White County grand jury issued three indictments against Reynolds who, if found guilty, could face one to five years in prison, a fine or both, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Lying to a law enforcement is a felony in Georgia.
Bradley Reynolds
The relationship, said to have occurred from 2013 to 2018, broke into the open May 30 this year. That’s when the university acknowledged on its Facebook page that charges were being made against Reynolds through “The Roys Report” podcast.
In that post, the university acknowledged for the first time it had been aware of the situation, which they strongly condemned if found to be true, since late February 2024. That is when Reynolds informed the administration he was under investigation by the sheriff’s office for an alleged inappropriate relationship.
The university kept the incident from campus employees, even after the senior staff member was placed on administrative leave and “his employment ended in a matter of days” without explanation. Faculty later strongly lamented to trustees that they were kept in the dark regarding the dismissal or termination of a high-ranking administrator to whom they reported.
The fallout brought into the open what many on campus described as a open secret repeatedly ignored by the administration. President Emir Caner’s 17-year tenure ended abruptly following a called meeting of the board of trustees in September. He denied any knowledge of the relationship even though female students petitioned his office with complaints and staff said he strongly warned employees about discussing the situation.
According to the Journal Constitution, the charges handed down on Monday are related to:
- Reynolds’ denial during the interview that he had any sexual relationship with Swinson
- Reynolds’ denial of ownership of a specific email account tied to more than 300 emails that contained “a lot of information involving the sexual relationship”
- Reynolds’ denial of making a false statement to then White County Sgt. Anthony Sims of “telling and emailing Swinson that his wife was going to die and that he would make Swinson his second wife”
Reynolds, a pastor as well as university administrator, is accused by Swinson of grooming her while she was a member of the soccer team — and an employee after graduation — and providing her with private Bible study in his home basement while his wife and children were upstairs. According to Swinson’s allegations, the relationship eventually led to sexual abuse, including rape.
A judge has issued a warrant for Reynolds’ arrest and set bond at $30,000. Reynolds’ counsel is being granted “reasonable time,” perhaps two weeks, to surrender or face extradition. He is believed to be living in Texas.
Earlier this month, the issue once again came to the surface as an anonymous letter from “Concerned Truett Alumni” began to circulate demanding more accountability specifically in details of the independent audit conducted by the trustees and shared privately in their called meeting that resulted in Caner’s dismissal.
The statement, dated Dec 2, said more than 600 alumni and 2,700 others “originally petitioned the board to discover the truth and respond appropriately.”
Related articles:
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Truett-McConnell trustees to meet as sexual abuse scandal worsens