Ex-Truett McConnell VP Indicted On Felony False-Statement Charges
A jury has indicted former Truett McConnell University Vice President Bradley Reynolds on three felony false-statement charges for lying to law enforcement about a years-long alleged abusive relationship with a student and former employee.
Earlier this summer, TMU Trustees called for an investigation after alumna Hayle Swinson reported allegations that former TMU professor Reynolds had groomed her and sexually abused her while she was a student athlete.
Reynolds was TMU’s vice president of academic affairs until February 2024, when he resigned after telling the university he was under investigation by local authorities. The White County Sheriff’s Office initially stopped investigating shortly after, citing there was insufficient evidence to seek criminal charges. Later, District Attorney Jeff Langley reopened the case.
Detectives accused Reynolds of sending Swinson hundreds of emails and text messages over an extended period, some containing sexually explicit content. In a podcast produced by The Roys Report on May 29, Swinson discussed her sexual abuse allegations, saying Reynolds assaulted her during one-on-one Bible study sessions in his home’s basement. Reynolds had also allegedly told Swinson that God had told him that his wife was going to die, and Swinson was supposed to replace her.
The jury issued the indictment on Monday, December 8, on charges stemming from an interview in March 2024 between Reynolds and a White County Sheriff’s Office investigator.
Prosecutors, in the first charge of the indictment, say Reynolds knowingly and willfully misled the investigator when he asserted he did not have a sexual relationship with Swinson.
Charge two accuses Reynolds of falsely stating that he was unaware of and did not use a Yahoo.com email account to send approximately 300 emails (including sexually explicit content) to Swinson.
Authorities later confirmed the email address was his: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported last week that Swinson turned over roughly 300 emails she says came from Reynolds. District Attorney Langley said the messages contained “a lot of information” involving the sexual relationship.
The third charge alleges Reynolds lied when he told the investigator he had never told Swinson his wife was going to die or that he planned to make Swinson his second wife.
A judge has issued a warrant for Reynolds’ arrest and set bond at $30,000, according to AJC. The White County district attorney’s office is giving Reynolds (who may now live in Leonard, Texas) two weeks to surrender before seeking his extradition.
In June, TMU trustees voted to place TMU President Emir Caner on administrative leave, and in September, announced that he would not be returning to the school after 17 years in the role as president. Interim President John Yarbrough, who had previously served as acting president, was affirmed by the trustees to continue leading the university until a new president is named.
Reynolds’ arraignment is currently scheduled for April 2, 2026.
This article was originally published by MinistryWatch.
Jessica Eturralde is a military wife of 20 years, a mother of three, and has worked as a TV and podcast host. She currently covers religion in the United States and the former Soviet Republics.