Left: Zachary Radcliff (zachradcliffmusic/Instagram). Right: Radcliff performing at his alma mater (Liberty University).
A youth pastor in Michigan known for his avid support of former President Donald Trump is accused of using his position of authority to coerce minors to have sex with him and send him explicit photos.
Zachary Radcliff, 29, is facing a slew of charges including first-degree criminal sexual conduct, aggravated child sexually abusive material and using a computer to commit a crime. Radcliff worked as the music and youth director at Oakwood Church in Ypsilanti where his father is the senior pastor.
More from Law&Crime: Best Buy Geek Squad discovered child pornography on customer’s computer when he sought help to move data, police say
The Michigan State Police said in a statement it began investigating on Oct. 2 when Radcliff allegedly solicited child sexually abusive material from a minor. A charging document obtained by Law&Crime says Radcliff’s alleged victims were between 13 and 15 years old and the crimes occurred as far back as 2014 when Radcliff would have been 19. He also is accused of having the victims send him more than 100 sexually explicit images.
Oakwood sent out a statement that said it first learned of the allegations on Oct. 3. Church officials suspended him with pay and then fired him on Oct. 12. It called the allegations “very disturbing.”
“The information that we received was shocking. We were told that Zachary had been soliciting inappropriate photos and possibly videos from teens. We have also heard other stories. This information has ripped our hearts apart,” the statement said. “The safety and protection of the individuals in our church is what is paramount to us. We are devoted to doing what we can for the care of the victims of these crimes.”
According to a since-deleted press release from Radcliff’s alma mater Liberty University, he performed at the school’s simulcast of the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2019. He debuted his single “I’ll Stand” at the event. The school president at the time, Jerry Falwell Jr., fawned over the song.
“I believe this song will become to this generation what Lee Greenwood’s ‘God Bless the USA’ was during the Reagan years,” he told the crowd, according to the press release.
The release has since been taken down from the school’s site but was captured by the Wayback Machine. Radcliff attended the school from 2013-2017, majoring in “worship studies with a songwriting specialization.”
Radcliff posted photos on his Instagram page of himself in MAGA gear and showing that he has performed in front of Donald Trump Jr.
“I’ll never forget this moment! Sharing the stage with these truly amazing people was an absolute honor! Tears!,” he wrote of the November 2019 photo of him, Falwell, Don Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Radcliff has a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 31. He’s being held in the Washtenaw County Jail on a $3 million bond. If convicted he faces life in prison.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Trooper Ryan of the Michigan State Police Brighton Post at 517-899-6174.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
