Church Trustee Accused Of Molesting Child

A 67-year-old Burke County man is accused of molesting a 5-year-old girl. Russell Junior Hartman was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.

Hartman is a trustee at First Advent Christian Church in Morganton. Deputies said he was also very active in the church’s youth group. Deputies said the girl he is accused of molesting was not a church member. The victim told officers Hartman molested her several times.

Hartman was brought in for questioning Tuesday and was then charged afterward. He was put in jail under a $40,000 bond. He has a first appearance in Burke County District Court Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Deputies said the case is still under investigation. They think there could be more victims. Anyone with information that could help the investigation is asked to call the Burke County Sheriff’s Department at 828-438-5500.