HASLET, TX – The pastor of Heritage Baptist Church has issued a statement after parents alerted police of a registered sex offender working the grounds of the church and school. Pastor Eric Crawford took to Facebook on Monday (Feb. 16) to explain why his son, Caleb Crawford, was given access to the premises as an independent contractor while actively registered as a sex offender with the state.
“In situations involving pending charges, our ministry immediately removes the individual from any volunteer or leadership role pending the outcome of the legal process,” Pastor Crawford said in reference to standard procedures at Heritage Baptist Church and its school, Heritage Christian Academy.
“In this instance involving my son, the legal process had concluded several years ago,” the pastor explained. “At that time, I permitted him to assist by leading music and performing certain maintenance work on campus as an independent contractor. My intent was to allow his gifts to serve the ministry while ensuring that he held no role of responsibility or authority over minors entrusted to our care.”
Parents of children who attended Heritage Christian Academy alerted police of Caleb Crawford’s presence on campus after discovering his past conviction online.
In 2016, Caleb Crawford was indicted on charges of indecency with a child involving sexual conduct. The victim was a 12-year-old girl, and Crawford was found guilty of the offense.
He went to prison for an unclear period of time and was required to register as a sex offender for life at the risk level of moderate to re-offend.
Ryan Gunderson and Dani Jo Gunderson were the parents who found the information online. “He’s supposed to be in a position where he is taking care of the church members and the school members and all these kids in the school,” the family said in reference to Pastor Eric Crawford.
“He is putting them all in harm’s way, or at least potential,” the family continued. “If someone would have told us about this four years ago, when we were looking to enroll, we would have never put our kids there.”
Pastor Eric Crawford reversed his decision to hire his son as an independent contractor after receiving backlash from parents. “Effective immediately, my son will no longer lead music at church, and his maintenance contract has been terminated,” the pastor assured the parents of Heritage Christian Academy.
“Heritage Baptist Church and its related ministries do not conceal criminal conduct,” Pastor Crawford went on to say. “We maintain zero tolerance for criminal or inappropriate behavior within our ministry community.”