CEDARVILLE (OH)
Fairborn Daily Herald [Greene County, OH]
April 3, 2026
By Jacob Espinosa
The Greene County Court of Common Pleas arraigned a former Cedarville University professor on charges of rape, sexual battery and gross sexual imposition Thursday.
The Greene County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday it began an investigation into John Kent Tarwater, 55, of Cedarville Township, in July, stemming from the disclosure of sexual abuse from a juvenile victim.
Deputies and U.S. Marshals took Tarwater into custody in Centerville Tuesday, March 31 and booked him into the Greene County Jail.
Bail was set at $1 million and the court issued a temporary protection order for the victim, who was between 10 and 12 years of age when the acts took place in 2019 and 2022.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation, which spanned several months and involved multiple states, remained ongoing and that the identified victim was not associated with Cedarville University.
Cedarville University said in a statement Tarwater was placed on administrative leave and restricted from coming on campus immediately when the school was informed he was under investigation for the allegations in July.
The school said it dismissed him from his contract in October.
The statement also said the administration shared the information with the Cedarville community Tuesday.
“While it is our understanding that these charges do not involve anyone Dr. Tarwater met or interacted with as a University professor, our guiding priority was transparency and the safety and well-being of everyone on campus. This is a grievous situation, and we have encouraged our campus community to pray for healing for all affected.”
Tarwater entered a not guilty plea.
A pre-trial conference is set for May 29 and a jury trial is set to take place June 15.