In a significant development, Pastor Eric Crawford has temporarily stepped down from his leadership role at Heritage Baptist Church and Heritage Christian Academy following the recent arrest of his son, Caleb Crawford, a registered sex offender. This decision comes as both the church and the school conduct an internal review.
Caleb Crawford was taken into custody on February 19, 2026, after he failed to comply with the requirements of his sex offender registration. His employment at the Haslet private school had raised concerns among parents, prompting a backlash that led to the termination of his contract. Despite his arrest, there have been no allegations of misconduct involving Caleb at the school.
Fort Worth police confirmed that Caleb was arrested around noon for registration violations. In light of these events, Pastor Eric Crawford has agreed to step away from all ministry activities to facilitate a thorough internal review overseen by the church’s Finance Team.
In an official statement, the church emphasized that the decision for Pastor Crawford to temporarily relinquish his duties was made collaboratively and voluntarily. The church aims to maintain transparency and uphold the integrity of the review process during this period.
As part of this internal review, Pastor Crawford will refrain from participating in preaching, teaching, administrative oversight, or any leadership functions within the church or school.
Caleb Crawford, who was indicted in 2016 for indecency with a child involving inappropriate conduct with a 12-year-old girl, is required to register as a sex offender for life and is classified as a moderate risk, indicating a potential risk of reoffending. However, there have been no reports of sexual misconduct associated with him at Heritage Christian Academy.
Caleb had been serving as an independent contractor for the church and school, and church leadership clarified that he had no direct responsibilities or authority over students. In response to the concerns raised by parents, his employment was promptly terminated.
Heritage Christian Academy has expressed its commitment to accountability and will continue to provide updates as necessary, while considering legal and privacy implications.
