A university professor known for publishing anti-LGBTQ+ works is facing multiple felony charges involving alleged sexual abuse of children in Ohio. John Kent Tarwater, 55, of Greene County, has been charged with two counts of rape, three counts of sexual battery, and three counts of gross sexual imposition. The allegations span from August 2019 to July 2025. According to Dayton 24/7 Now, one alleged victim was under the age of 13 at the time. Authorities say Tarwater allegedly used force or the threat of force to compel compliance.
Tarwater has denied all charges. His bail has been set at $1 million, a figure his attorney argued is typically associated with murder cases. As of now, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office confirms he remains in custody. Tarwater was dismissed from his contract at Cedarville University in October after being placed on administrative leave in July, when the university first learned of the allegations. Tarwater is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on April 28, with a jury trial expected to begin in June.
