FRUITLAND PARK, Fla – Lake County sheriff’s investigators arrested a man on video voyeurism charges after a Leesburg Police Department investigation led into county jurisdiction, according to an arrest affidavit.
Major Crimes investigators with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office were asked to continue the investigation after suspicious material was found on a work computer belonging to a local business, deputies said. The material appeared to include inappropriate photographs of adults and adolescent girls, investigators said.
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Detectives said the investigation led to additional material on a cloud drive, including videos that appeared to show adolescent girls changing clothes and videos recorded inside a bathroom.
Investigators later determined the videos were recorded by a concealed camera inside a church bathroom and in a room where adolescent girls were changing after a baptism service, deputies said.
The person in possession of the computer was identified as Charles Barton Lucas, records show. Investigators examined the restroom where the videos were recorded but determined the cameras were no longer present, deputies said.
A search warrant was obtained for Lucas’ residence and executed the evening of June 19, according to investigators. Lucas was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail.
According to the arrest affidavit, Lucas faces five counts of digital voyeurism, including one count involving a victim younger than 16.
Detectives said Lucas is listed on Heritage Community Church’s website as an “Overseer,”. Investigators are working to identify victims shown in the videos, some of which date to the early 2000s, deputies said.
The church’s pastor is assisting investigators and was cooperative, deputies said.
News 6 also reached out to the church for comment. We received the below statement:
We were notified late Friday that one of our overseers, Bart Lucas, was arrested. Bart and his family have been part of the Heritage family since our beginning, and this news is deeply concerning to our church family.
At this time, we do not have all the facts surrounding this matter. We are cooperating fully with the appropriate authorities and are seeking to learn more as information becomes available.
Heritage Church does not condone unlawful conduct or conduct that is inconsistent with our biblical values and standards. At the same time, we believe it is important to allow the legal process to proceed and to avoid speculation or premature conclusions.
We ask our church family to pray for everyone involved and impacted by this situation, and for wisdom, truth, justice, and healing throughout this process.
We will provide additional information to our church family as appropriate if and when more information becomes available.
Heritage Community Church Fruitland Park
As victims are identified, detectives plan to contact them individually.
According to arrest records, Lucas was released on bond this afternoon.
The investigation remains open and active.