Former Pastor to Teacher Accused of Statutory Rape Speaks Out
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HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — For the first time the man who says he baptized and pastored Randy Hart, talks about the math teacher’s charges. Hart is charged with aggravated statutory rape and solicitation of a minor. He appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday. Larry Bailey says he’s known Hart all of his life, and even trusted him to babysit his own son. “I can’t understand it…trying to but I just can’t understand it all,” Bailey said. After leaving Shiloh Baptist Church in Reagan, Hart became pastor. Bailey says the math teacher was pastor for six years. “He went to church when I was pastor and he was a good kid as far as I knew,” Bailey added. Chester County deputies say Hart has admitted to contacting a underage teenage boy online and having sex with him. “It hurts deep inside you know,” Bailey said. “I don’t have words to say.” According to Bailey, Hart has preached in Henderson and Chester Counties, preaching at places like Center Hill and Cave Springs Baptist Church. Deacons at Cave Springs didn’t want to talk on camera, but told WBBJ they’ve been without a pastor since Hart resigned in 2012. Bailey says the allegations have him worried about how much contact Hart has seemed to always have with young children. “If the accusations are true he didn’t need to be there,” Bailey said, “But it’s hard for me to believe they’re true.” According to the Beach River Baptist Association in Henderson County, Hart was an Independent Baptist pastor, meaning he preached at different churches across West Tennessee.
