MIDLAND (MI)
Midland Daily News [Midland MI]
June 5, 2024
By David Clark
Living Word Church Associate Pastor Randy Saylor has been charged with three additional counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct.
Saylor, 71, was charged with one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct of a person under 13 and one count of second-degree CSC with a relationship during his May 22 arraignment. He was freed on a $50,000 cash/surety bond.
On Monday, he was charged with the additional counts by Midland County District Court Magistrate Gerald Ladwig: Two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a victim under 13 and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a relationship.
Saylor is the second pastor and third person involved with the church to be charged with sexual assault. Randy Saylor’s son, Brandon Saylor, a church volunteer, admitted to sexually assaulting four children under the age of 13 for a decade and was sentenced in April to five to 15 years in prison for three counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Pastor James Randolph, 58, was arrested Nov. 28 and is charged with seven felonies for crimes allegedly occurring in 2011. He is charged with two counts of first-degree CSC involving a relationship; one count of second-degree CSC with a child under 13 while Randolph was older than 17; two counts of second-degree CSC involving a relationship; one count of second-degree CSC or subsequent offense; and one count of accosting children for immoral purposes.
Living Word Church Administrator William Bailey said Living Word International Church is deeply saddened and concerned to address recent allegations of misconduct involving one of its ministers.
“There are no allegations that the abuse took place at the church or involved the church in any way,” Bailey said. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities in their investigation.