Midland Pastor James Randolph Found Guilty on Six Counts of CSC
MIDLAND, MICHIGAN – A Midland pastor has been convicted on six counts of criminal sexual conduct (CSC) following a weeklong trial that revealed years of abuse against a child victim.
Verdict Reached After Seven-Day Trial
According to Midland Daily News, 59-year-old James Randolph, former head of youth ministries at Living Word International Church, was found guilty Friday of:
- Two counts of first-degree CSC with a relationship
- Three counts of second-degree CSC with a relationship
- One count of second-degree CSC with a child under 13
Jurors deliberated for just two and a half hours before reaching the unanimous decision.
Past Convictions and Community Concerns
This is not Randolph’s first conviction. In 1985, he pleaded guilty to third-degree CSC after raping a 15-year-old developmentally disabled girl in Jackson.
Assistant Prosecutor Courtney Driscoll questioned how Randolph was allowed to serve as youth ministry head for decades despite his criminal past, suggesting the church downplayed his history because of family ties. Randolph is married to Dawn Barclay, daughter of church leader Mark Barclay.
“How the hell could he be the head of youth ministries for 30 years?” Driscoll asked during closing arguments.
Victim’s Testimony and Defense Strategy
The victim testified for more than six hours about the abuse she endured as a child, describing trauma she had relived repeatedly.
Randolph’s attorney, Nicole Blank Becker, argued the victim’s story changed over time and urged jurors to question its reliability. She pointed out inconsistencies in past interviews, but prosecutors said even slight changes reflected the difficulty of recalling traumatic events.
Ultimately, jurors sided with the prosecution, finding Randolph guilty on all counts.
Next Steps
Randolph’s bond was revoked, and he was taken to the Midland County Jail immediately following the verdict.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2025, and faces up to life in prison.
Do you think churches should do more to screen leaders with prior convictions to prevent abuse cases like this? Share your thoughts in the comments on FatCityFeed.com.
