A trial date has been set for a former vice president of Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Ga., who was accused of a years-long illicit relationship with a former student and staffer.
The relationship itself is not what will be on trial, however. Bradley Reynolds is charged with three felony counts of making false statements to law enforcement about the alleged encounters.
According to local news outlet NowGeorgia, the trial is slated for Monday, Nov. 2.
Bradley Reynolds
Reynolds served as Truett McConnell’s vice president of academic services from 2009 to 2024. Last December, he was indicted on charges that he allegedly lied to the White County Sheriff’s Office about his relationship with former student Hayle Swinson, who later accused him of grooming and abusing her.
Because of the statute of limitations, Swinson was not able to press charges against Reynolds, but lying to law enforcement is a felony in Georgia, and that is where he now faces legal peril.
Reynolds was dismissed from employment at the Baptist-affiliated school in 2024. According to Swinson and other advocates for reform, then President Emir Caner did not act on this and other cases of sexual harassment and abuse on campus. Those allegations ultimately led to Caner’s firing by university trustees in September 2025.
Caner since has filed suit against the school for wrongful termination. Baptist News Global also has been sued by another former Truett McConnell professor, Jeremy Lyon, for allegedly defaming him amid reporting on the larger scandal at Truett McConnell. BNG has denied the charges.
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