A former Siloam Springs minister has been arrested in connection with sexual assault that occurred at the church and in his home, according to court documents.
Hank Guilliams, 42, of Rayville, La. was being held Wednesday on $35,000 bond in the Benton County Jail after his arrest on four counts of sexual assault in the second degree, a Class B felony.
Benton County sheriff’s deputies traveled to Louisiana and returned with Guilliams on Monday.
Siloam Springs police received a report in February from the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division in reference to a sexual assault complaint. Police were told that Guilliams was in a sex rehabilitation facility in Tennessee and he had disclosed sexual assaults that he committed.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, Guilliams said the sexual assaults occurred at Eastgate Church of Christ where he was a pastor and the incidents occurred 2 years ago. Police also learned that sexual assault incidents occurred at Guilliams' Siloam Springs residence, the affidavit states.
Guilliams said he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl at the church, according to court documents. The girl was interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Benton County where she described being inappropriately touched by Guilliams.
A 17-year-old girl also reported that Guilliams had inappropriately touched her at his home, according to court documents.
Both girls reported that Guilliams’s wife had talked with the young girls at the church and warned them not to dress provocatively to prevent Guilliams from lusting after them, the affidavit states.
Siloam Springs Deputy Police Chief Goeff Lewis said there are multiple victims in the case and it is still an active investigation.
According to Lewis, the earliest assault in Siloam Springs was two years ago.
“I do not believe he’s an active pastor at the church,” Lewis said of Guilliams.