A Michigan church youth pastor who moonlights as a Christian rock singer and has performed in front of high-profile conservative audiences has been accused of preying on kids in his father’s congregation for over a decade.
Zachary Radcliff, 29, was sacked from his job as music and youth director at Oakwood Church in Ypsilanti, an Ann Arbor suburb, on October 12, ten days after the Michigan State Police initiated an inquiry. His father, Frank Radcliff, serves as the church’s senior pastor.
“We realized while talking to him that there was more to the situation than what was being expressed,” the church said in a statement on its website.
Zachary Radcliff was arrested over the weekend and charged with one case of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, two charges of aggravated child sexually abusive activity, two counts of child sexually abusive activity, and six counts of computer crime, according to court records. He was being jailed under a $3 million bond.
“The investigation shows the alleged offenses have been occurring since as early as 2011,” the Michigan State Police wrote on its official X account, noting that the accused victims were aged 12 to 17.
According to court documents, Radcliff’s charges have an offense date of June 27, 2014. According to state police, this is because the majority of the alleged violations occurred during that period.
However, the church, which is collaborating with the police investigation, provided additional information in its statement about what Radcliff is suspected of doing.
“The information that we received was shocking,” he stated. “We were informed that Zachary was requesting improper images and maybe films from teenagers. We’ve also heard other stories. This information has torn our hearts apart.
Radcliff, who resides in Saline, just south of Ann Arbor, faces 20 years to life in prison if convicted on the most serious charges against him, according to court documents.
The state police said they began their investigation into Radcliff on Oct. 2 after learning that he had allegedly requested sexually abusive material from a juvenile. A search warrant was executed at both his office and home.
According to his biography for the Liberty Music Group: God and Country Record Label, Radcliff is “an alumnus of Liberty University’s School of Music.”
“He has a passion not only as a musician and songwriter but also as a public citizen to do his part to make this country be the best it can be,” the note states. “His country flair and humble blue-collar roots have influenced his musical approach and fan base. His personality reflects his devotion to God, nation, and music.”
Before his arrest, Radcliff was pursuing a musical career that included a 2019 appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
Radcliff, an enthusiastic admirer of former President Donald Trump, recently shared a YouTube video of himself performing his patriotic song “I’ll Stand” as part of Liberty University’s convocation in November 2019.
Donald Trump Jr. can be seen in the background, as can then-Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr.
The video’s description states that Radcliff “shared the stage with Donald Trump Jr, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Jerry Falwell, Becki Falwell, Tim Lee, and Charlie Kirk.”
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Michigan youth pastor arrested on charges of criminal sexual conduct against minors