Bright Star Missionary Baptist pastor charged with 5 counts of rape

Cedric M. Sharp, the pastor of Bright Star Missionary Baptist Church in Texarkana, Arkansas, remained in custody Thursday, more than a week after he was charged with five counts of rape and later ordered to stay away from his alleged victim.

Officials at the Miller County Jail confirmed with The Christian Post that Sharp, 51, was in custody Thursday afternoon, even though court documents show that he was offered a $500,000 bond at his first appearance in Miller County Circuit Court on Feb. 13.

Full details of the complaint against Sharp weren’t immediately available, but court records show he was arrested and charged by the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department on Feb. 11.  His accuser, Kendreia Vezien, is the granddaughter of a former parishioner who died in 2024.

Sharp’s next appearance in court is set for March 3.

The no-contact order currently in force to protect Sharp’s accuser prohibits him from “annoying, harassing, or communicating verbally, by phone, text, mail, or otherwise” with her, as well as any member of her family or household.

He is required to remain at least 100 yards from Vezien, her home, her place of work, business, school, or any other place where he might be around his minor children or the alleged victim's minor children. 

If Sharp makes bail and violates the order, he can be arrested immediately or suffer adjustments to his bail bond.

Calls made to Bright Star Missionary Baptist Church seeking comment went unanswered on Thursday. 

His daughter, Jayla Sharp, explained in a statement on Facebook on Feb. 12, that his family is in shock and urged prayers for the situation.

“I’m going to address it one time and one time only. It’s different when the headlines have your last name in them. When the person people are discussing is the same person whose face you see when you look in the mirror. Before you post opinions, jokes, or loud commentary, please understand some of us don’t get to scroll past this. We have to live it. We’re trying to process shock, heartbreak, confusion, and love wrapped all together,” she wrote.

“While everyone has something to say, please remember his wife, his children, his mother and father and his siblings have to carry this one day at a time. They’re the ones whose lives are quietly shaken the most. Instead of talking, pray for them. Cover them. Give them grace because we still have to wake up and face the world tomorrow,” she continued. “We still have to answer questions we may not have all the answers too. We still have to hold ourselves together in public while breaking down in private. Please move with compassion. Please move with grace. What’s ‘news’ and ‘tea’ for you is reality for someone else.”

Sharp faces 10 to 40 years or life in prison for each count of rape if he is convicted.