Baptist Pastor Cedric Sharp Charged With 5 Counts of Rape, Faces Life in Prison

Texarkana Baptist Pastor Cedric Sharp Arrested on Five Rape Charges, Held on $500,000 Bond

Cedric M. Sharp, the 51 year old pastor of Bright Star Missionary Baptist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas, was arrested on February 11, 2026, and charged with five counts of rape by the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department.

Sharp has been held at the Miller County Jail since his arrest and remained in custody more than a week later, unable to post the $500,000 bond set during his first court appearance on February 13.

Court documents reveal that Sharp has been ordered to have absolutely no contact with his alleged victim. The no contact order prohibits him from annoying, harassing, or communicating with the accuser and requires him to maintain a distance of more than 100 yards from the victim's home, workplace, school, or any location where minor children may be present.

The accuser has been identified as Kendreia Vezien, the granddaughter of a former church parishioner who passed away in 2024.

If convicted on all counts, Sharp faces a potential sentence of 10 to 40 years or life imprisonment per count under Arkansas law.

Sharp's next court appearance is scheduled for March 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Calls to Bright Star Missionary Baptist Church seeking comment went unanswered.

Sharp's daughter, Jayla Sharp, posted a statement on social media addressing the charges:

It's different when the headlines have your last name in them... please remember his wife, his children, his mother and father and his siblings have to carry this one day at a time.

Sharp has also been ordered to refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages or any controlled substances unless prescribed by a doctor, and is prohibited from carrying a firearm or ammunition while the case is pending.

Arkansas Baptist Church Pastor Faces Life in Prison After Five Count Rape Indictment

The arrest of Sharp has sent shockwaves through the Texarkana faith community, where Bright Star Missionary Baptist Church has served as a spiritual home for families for years. The severity of the charges, five separate counts of rape carrying potential life sentences, underscores the gravity of the allegations against the church leader.

The Crusader's Opinion

When a shepherd becomes a predator, the entire flock bleeds. If these allegations are true, this man exploited the most sacred trust a community can place in someone: spiritual authority over their families. The church must never be a hiding place for wolves. We pray for the accuser and for justice to be served swiftly and without mercy toward evil. Every denomination must take accountability seriously. Protect the vulnerable. Expose the darkness. Let no pulpit shield a criminal.

Take Action

• If you have information about this case, contact the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department at (870) 773 3151.
• Support survivors of clergy abuse through SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), which serves all denominations.
• Advocate for mandatory background checks and accountability structures in your local church. Start the conversation with your church leadership this week.
• Support organizations protecting the vulnerable through The Shepherd's Shield.
• If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual assault, contact RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1 800 656 4673.