RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - UPDATED: Dates have been confirmed for a five-day trial involving a husband and wife in Murfreesboro facing a combined total of 20 criminal charges related to child victims. The trial is set to begin on July 28, 2025, in the Circuit Courtroom of Judge Barry Tidwell.

Thirty-three-year-old Benjamin Garlick faces at least seven counts of aggravated rape of a child, six counts of aggravated sexual battery, soliciting sexual exploitation of a minor, and two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child.

A pre-trial motion previously requested for March has been granted a continuance, followed by a status hearing set for July 24, 2025, just four days before the trial. Pre-trial motions are typically filed by either the prosecution or defense to request the exclusion of certain evidence, dismissal of specific charges, or changes to the trial venue.

Before Garlick’s arrest, he led church services as a traveling evangelist, visiting various states, including Texas, Florida, Alabama, and Arkansas. During his travels, he gained thousands of views on social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook, with extensive documentation in videos posted by religious organizations. He reportedly preached at a variety of churches across the U.S., catering to both English and Spanish-speaking congregations.

Almost exactly ten months ago, detectives from the Murfreesboro Police Special Victims Unit (SVU) encouraged anyone who may have been victimized by the man described as a “traveling minister” to come forward. Police highlighted in their request, “SVU detectives are urging anyone, particularly those in the Hispanic community, who believe they could be a victim to step forward.”

Shaantal Garlick, who will turn 31 this month, is the suspect's wife. Court documents indicate that she faces two counts of facilitation of a felony, specifically “facilitation of aggravated rape of a child.” She also faces two counts of aggravated child abuse, neglect, or endangerment, with the victim being eight years old or younger. Murfreesboro Police noted in a release that she and her husband traveled together when visiting churches, stating, “He and his wife traveled across the country, according to the investigation.”

The mother faces charges under "Haley's Law," which applies to cases involving serious bodily injury to a child. This law includes sentencing guidelines for aggravated child abuse that may bar convicted offenders from having future contact with the victim.

Benjamin Garlick, who the MPD calls the “traveling minister,” evidently made a post on the popular GoFundMe website to request donations for a new mode of transportation after the family van accumulated over 400,000 miles on it while traveling. Garlick stated they needed to raise $40,000 to pay for a Ford Transit van. In his appeal for funding, he cited a growing family and expressed excitement about receiving their new baby boy. To further justify the large request, he noted, “That’s as few as forty churches each giving one thousand dollars, or eighty giving five hundred.” The plea for funds was written in both English and Spanish, aligning with his traveling ministry and sermons delivered to both English and Spanish-speaking segments of the U.S. population. When the fundraiser closed, just over $18,000 was raised toward the purchase of the new van.

Garlick was re-indicted by a Rutherford County Grand Jury last March, at which time additional charges were filed. Following the new indictment, police stated in a press release that he also faced “two counts of violation of the child protection act.” The indictment was served to Garlick while he was incarcerated at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center.

While the wife remains free on bond, Benjamin remains in custody. In five months, the couple will appear in a Rutherford County courtroom to face a jury in a five-day trial beginning on July 28, 2025.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.