John K. Tarwater, a former Cedarville University professor who wrote about biblical sexuality and the marriage covenant, has been arrested and indicted in Ohio for allegedly sexually abusing and raping a child as young as 10. According to court records, the victim is known to Tarwater, and the alleged crimes occurred at property he once owned.
During an arraignment Thursday morning (April 2), Tarwater entered a plea of not guilty. His bond is set at $1 million.
Editor’s note: This article refers to reports of child sex abuse, which some readers might find triggering and/or disturbing.
Tarwater, 55, is a father of 10. Since 2017, he had been teaching business classes at Cedarville, a Baptist university in southwest Ohio. Tarwater holds two doctoral degrees, including one in Christian ethics from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He once served as the seminary’s director of student life.
Former Cedarville Professor Faces 8 Felony Sex Charges
On March 27, a grand jury indicted John Tarwater on two counts of rape, three counts of sexual battery, and three counts of gross sexual imposition. Since his arrest on Tuesday (March 31), Tarwater has been held at the Greene County jail outside of Dayton, Ohio.
According to the indictment, the alleged crimes occurred at a home in Cedarville from August 2019 through August 2022, from August 2022 through March 2025, and then from March 2025 through July 2025.
In July 2025, a juvenile made a sexual-abuse report to the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. That office said the investigation, which “spanned several months and involved multiple states,” is still ongoing.
On Tuesday (March 31), Cedarville University emailed its students and staff about Tarwater’s arrest and the charges against him. John W. Davis, the school’s associate vice president for human resources, wrote that the university was “informed in July 2025 that Dr. Tarwater was under investigation for concerning allegations.”
Because of the “nature of the investigation,” Davis continued, Tarwater “was immediately placed on administrative leave and restricted from coming on campus.” By October, the university had “dismissed [Tarwater] from his contract.”
Although the “grievous” charges don’t involve anyone whom Tarwater “met or interacted with” at the university, Davis wrote, “We want to be transparent and ensure the safety of everyone on campus.” The administrator encouraged students and staff to report “any inappropriate behavior” by the former professor and to pray for those affected.
John Tarwater, a former Cedarville University professor, has been arrested and indicted in Ohio for child sex abuse charges.Click to Post
