One Year Later: Update on accused pedophile Zachary Radcliff, former youth pastor from Oakwood Church in Ypsilanti, Michigan

One year on, former youth pastor and music director for Oakwood Church, Zachary Radcliff, 29, has not yet stood trial for sex crimes against minors. Victims range in age from 12 to 17 and the crimes are alleged to go back as far as 2011.

Church youth director charged with criminal sexual conduct in Washtenaw County

Thanks to a reader for this important update on Ratcliff’s case, which is floating around on an interlocutory appeal filed in June. His bond was revoked in January 2025.

Earlier this year, nine survivors testified against Radcliff at his preliminary hearing in Washtenaw County. Following this testimony, 14A District Court Judge J. Cedric Simpson added nine counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and 21 counts of child sexually abusive activity. In all, Radcliff now faces 60 charges related to first-degree criminal sexual conduct, child sexually abusive activity and using a computer to commit a crime.

Judge Simpson observed that the survivors were courageous and believable. He stated on the record:

What I saw with them, they need to be believed, and they ought to be believed. Whether anyone does, that’s maybe for the future. But I believe them. I believe everything they told this court.

I don’t say this lightly at all. Not how I operate my life and certainly not how I operate as a judge. But in my 25-so-plus years, I’ve seen a lot. This ranks up with one of the most egregious predators that I have ever seen as it regards individuals.”

At the 30:09 mark, after dispensing with defense counsel’s specious argument that at the preliminary hearing, a CSAM charge requires a physical piece of evidence rather than testimony by survivors about how it was created, Judge Simpson describes the evidence provided by Radcliff’s accusers. It is compelling and worth watching. THIS is what is behind that piece of paper charging Ratcliff with his crimes, and the additional charges imposed that day. This is what the public never gets insight into.

The trial was moved to the 22nd Circuit Court and is being overseen by Judge Arianne Slay.  Trial was scheduled for April, but the case is on some interlocutory appeal, which was filed on June 17. Status: Open.

https://www.courts.michigan.gov/c/courts/coa/case/376105

Radcliff is initially listed in court records as indigent, but at the bottom of the page above it shows he is now represented by Shannon Smith and Molly Blythe. I am not sure what the order is they are appealing from, but chatter online indicates its basis is in defense counsel “getting picked on.”

Delay is great for these types. Survivors may get tired of waiting and not want to testify at trial. Remember, this is a man Judge Simpson, who has been on the bench a quarter of a century, observed was an egregious predator.

A little more about Zach Radcliff, who is not only an accused prolific pedophile and CSAM creator, but what we’ve come to expect in religious and political hypocrites. Son of the pastor of Oakwood Church, the testimony at the preliminary hearing established that he paid for some of the grooming gifts he gave his victims with a church credit card.

Here’s a little clip of Radcliff’s dad, Pastor Frank, behind the pulpit at Oakwood Church:

Oakwood Church in Saline preaches hate behind the pulpit
byu/the_OG_smash inAnnArbor

Zach Radcliff is described in a Newsweek article as a MAGA church leader. “Radcliff, who performed a song at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in 2019, is a known supporter of Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.”

https://www.newsweek.com/maga-church-leader-charged-sexually-abusing-children-1972988

I set a Google alert for this piece of shit, because mainstream media will ignore him until a sentence is imposed. We will eventually learn more about the basis of his appeal and keep an eye on why two words: YOUTH PASTOR now should always raise red flags. That “nice young man” may end up being a Zach Radcliff.

See also:

https://www.primetimer.com/news/why-was-zachary-radcliff-arrested-michigan-church-youth-director-allegations-explained

https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2025/03/i-believe-them-judge-adds-30-more-charges-to-sexual-abuse-case-against-church-leader.html

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/10/anti-lgbtq-church-leader-allegedly-sexually-abused-kids-hes-facing-11-felony-counts

Zachary Radcliff Youth Pastor Bound Over for Trial
byu/FitLevel8913 inAnnArbor

Maxwell’s petition denied by the U.S. Supreme Court

Ghislaine Maxwell’s petition for a writ of certiorari was denied today by the United States Supreme Court. The Court will not hear her arguments on appeal from the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The denial leaves her conviction for sex trafficking and 20-year prison sentence in place. 

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/06/supreme-court-declines-ghislaine-maxwell-appeal-00594624

The Supreme Court will grant review and hear oral arguments in an appeal if four of the nine justices vote to do so. The vast number of petitions are rejected and most, like this one, are dismissed without comment or dissent.

The denial also minimizes the likelihood of anything new coming out about people currently holding power and Epstein and continues to give the administration bargaining power over this convicted child sex offender.

Her attorney said she will now seek clemency from Trump and of course she will do anything she has to for it to be bestowed. Once the heat dies down, that is probably what will happen. She just has a few more years of yoga classes at Club Fed.

US v. Maxwell

Opening arguments begin on Monday in United States v. Maxwell, the case brought against Jeffrey Epstein’s tool, Ghislaine Maxwell. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-judge-lets-ghislaine-maxwell-call-false-memories-expert-testify-trial-2021-11-22/. The court ruled it will allow the wealthy “socialite” to call expert witness and friend to monsters, Professor Elizabeth Loftus, to testify about false memory syndrome. Loftus, of memory is malleable, victims of sex crimes make this shit up or embellish, everyone deserves a defense and don’t you dare forget about the presumption of innocence, fame. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/04/05/how-elizabeth-loftus-changed-the-meaning-of-memory 

I guess if one is capable of overcoming shame and fear and comes forward about sexual victimization, the trauma of the victimization will render one incapable of any reliable memory. Thus the circle is complete and victimizer prevails every time. Dare to come forward? Attorneys for the defense will make sure you are further traumatized and disenfranchised.

Here’s a little overview of the problems with “false memory syndrome”: https://timesupfoundation.org/the-danger-behind-the-false-memory-myth-2/. People I otherwise respect have even tossed this one back at me when I raise the issue of people victimized as kids in Oakland County during the heyday of the late 1970s and early 1980s (you know, when the Law and Order prosecutorial team of Brooks Patterson and Richard Thompson were shaking down alleged welfare cheats and turning a blind eye to child predators). I view it as a permanent black mark once someone defaults to this argument as an almost automatic response.

Loftus testified on behalf of Harvey Weinstein and Jerry Sandusky. Let’s hope the jury in the Maxwell case can see past this desperate defense and return a similar verdict.