Teenage victim speaks out against former church leader accused of rape
Posted: Apr 14, 2014 12:04 AMUpdated: May 12, 2014 12:09 AM
GALLATIN, TN (WSMV) -
For nearly 10 years, the 14-year-old step-granddaughter of Randy Guilliani has sat in silence toiling with heart-wrenching memories of the abuse she endured as a child.
"Because I was so young, I wasn't sure if it was right or wrong," she said. "I knew that it felt weird. It felt different," she added. She says it started when she was just five years old. Guilliani sexually assaulted her and did not stop until she was six.
"It took a long time for me to finally come out and say it. It was bothering me a lot. I started going to counseling. I was getting depressed," she said.
She said she would go to Guilliani's home in Hendersonville almost daily after school when her mother had to work. Guilliani, who told police he was once a worship leader, most recently at a Gallatin church, was always nice, she said, and spoke in a "sweet voice."
"He told me not to say anything, so I wouldn't," the teen said. "I didn't think that it was anything bad." As she got older, she realized it was not only bad, it was a crime. "I would remember what happened and I started thinking to myself, 'Oh my gosh, he did such horrible things to me when I was a little girl.'"
"Because I was so young, I wasn't sure if it was right or wrong," she said. "I knew that it felt weird. It felt different," she added. She says it started when she was just five years old. Guilliani sexually assaulted her and did not stop until she was six.
"It took a long time for me to finally come out and say it. It was bothering me a lot. I started going to counseling. I was getting depressed," she said.
She said she would go to Guilliani's home in Hendersonville almost daily after school when her mother had to work. Guilliani, who told police he was once a worship leader, most recently at a Gallatin church, was always nice, she said, and spoke in a "sweet voice."
"He told me not to say anything, so I wouldn't," the teen said. "I didn't think that it was anything bad." As she got older, she realized it was not only bad, it was a crime. "I would remember what happened and I started thinking to myself, 'Oh my gosh, he did such horrible things to me when I was a little girl.'"
The abuse stopped when she and her mother moved out of the state after a divorce. They moved back to Tennessee last year, and the teen says she could no longer keep quiet. She feared Guilliani was nearby, and potentially hurting others, she said. She built the courage to call Guilliani last Friday.
"I asked him, 'Do you remember doing this and this to me?' and he said, 'Yes, I'm so sorry.' I asked him if he did it to my brother or stepsister or someone else, and he said no. I asked him, 'Then why then you do it to me?' and he said he didn't know."
Guilliani admitted to the abuse to the teen as well as police.
Her grandmother said she can't believe the family ever trusted him.
"I'm angry, but I'm also very proud of my granddaughter that she was brave enough to step forward and say what had happened to her and all that's she's been through," the grandmother said. "We're going to get past this. We're going to get through this."
Guilliani, 54, is in the Sumner County Jail, charged with the rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery. Gallatin police say they do not know if Guilliani assaulted any others, but said they are looking into his history and access to other children.
Guilliani, 54, is in the Sumner County Jail, charged with the rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery. Gallatin police say they do not know if Guilliani assaulted any others, but said they are looking into his history and access to other children.
Police said Guilliani filled in as a worship leader at The Grace Place Church of God in Mt. Juliet about four years ago.
A hearing is scheduled for May 7.
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