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Police: Youth Minister Had Sex With 3 Girls
Girl Says She's Pregnant With Man's Child
POSTED: 9:48 am EDT April 22, 2009
UPDATED: 6:28 pm EDT April 22, 2009
GREENWOOD, Ind. -- A youth minister was arrested Tuesday on several child sex-related charges involving three teen girls.Franklin police said Jonathan James Hartman, 29, of Indianapolis, a co-youth minister at the Salvation Army Church in Greenwood, repeatedly had sex with three girls over a period of three years beginning when they were 13, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.Last week, one of the girls, who are all now 15, told police that she was pregnant with Hartman's child."It wasn't enticement. The girls were willing to do it and some of the girls initiated it with him," said Franklin police Detective Kevin Scheuermann.Police said sexual encounters took place at the church, in the 300 block of Market Plaza, in Hartman's home and at another home in Franklin.The girl who is pregnant told police she planned to keep the baby, although she said Hartman had tried to convince her to have an abortion. She is about one month pregnant, police said.Hartman was arrested on charges of child molesting and five counts of sexual misconduct with a minor."I can't even put into words how disturbing it is," said Jeff Sanger, Salvation Army development director. "The most important thing is the safety of the children who come to the corps. That safety has been violated and trust has been lost."Before working for the Salvation Army, Hartman received "Safe from Harm" training and underwent a criminal background checks. His parents are officers in the Salvation Army.He was held Wednesday in the Johnson County Jail on $150,000 bond. Police said additional charges could be forthcoming.
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