Bonnie Lill

The Stewart Houston Times

DOVER, Tenn. – A former Baptist pastor and former Stewart County school bus driver was arrested July 3 on three counts of aggravated statutory rape, according to Stewart County Sheriff's Office Investigator David Evans.

Robert Reason, 44, of Big Rock, is accused of the crimes that allegedly were perpetrated against a female who had been a member of his congregation at Petra Southern Baptist Church in Big Rock for several years.

According to Evans, information was received by the Stewart County School System during the summer about possible criminal activity involving Reason.

"Upon receipt of the information, the school system took immediate and appropriate action by reporting the information to the School Resource Officer, who in turn handed the information over to criminal investigations," the investigator said.

Evans added that as soon as the information was received, an investigation was initiated that subsequently resulted in Reason's arrest.

The crimes allegedly occurred during the summer break from school.

Reason had been dismissed as a pastor in February or March of this year, said Rev. William Gray, Director of the Stewart County Baptist Association.

Gray said that the small congregation of about 20-30 people had dismissed him because of Reason's unresolved personal problems. They do not yet have a full-time pastor.

According to Schools Director Leta Joiner, Reason is no longer employed with the Stewart County School System.

Bus driver contracts are on a year-to-year basis, and he was not rehired for the upcoming school year.