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Last updated on Thursday, April 23, 2009
(GREENWOOD) - A Salvation Army youth pastor in Greenwood is facing child molestation charges.
29-year-old Jonathan Hartman of Indianapolis was arrested Tuesday following an investigation by the Franklin Police Department. Authorities say the allegations stem from his relationship with three 15-year-old girls.
One of the girls reportedly told police she is pregnant with Hartman's baby. He is preliminarily charged with one count of child molesting and five preliminary counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.
Salvation Army spokesman Jeff Stanger says the son of the Corp Officers for the Salvation Army Church in Greenwood and was a volunteer at the church working with youth and a music group.
In light of the situation, the Salvation Army is assigning new Corp Officers to the church immediately to help counsel family and friends of the victims and oversee daily operations.
Stanger says the Salvation Army requires a background check and "safe-from-harm" training for all volunteers, however, procedures will be investigated and reviewed to see if anything further could have been done to prevent this incident.
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