FRUITLAND PARK, Fla. – Heritage Community Church leaders spoke to parishioners Sunday morning for the first time since a longtime volunteer was arrested on allegations that he secretly filmed girls in a church bathroom.
Church officials told the congregation they are working with law enforcement while prioritizing care and support for anyone who may have been affected as the case moves forward.
“Our greatest concern today is the individuals and families that may have been impacted,” Lead Pastor Sidney Brock told the congregation. “These are very serious allegations.”
The remarks came two days after Charles “Bart” Lucas, a longtime church member who had served as a volunteer overseer, was taken into custody.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the case began when suspicious files were found on a work computer brought to RoMac Building Supply for repairs. Detectives said that discovery led them to additional content in a cloud account, including videos of girls changing clothes and footage captured inside a bathroom.
Authorities said some of the videos were tied to a hidden camera placed in a church bathroom and in a room used by girls to change after baptism services.
Lucas was arrested Friday and is facing five counts connected to secretly recording people without their knowledge, including one count involving a girl under the age of 16.
Ahead of Sunday’s services, Administrative Pastor Melvin Davison told News 6 in an exclusive interview that church leaders were notified of Lucas’ arrest on Friday evening.
“We’re being fully cooperative and our congregation, our staff, we’re just kind of heartbroken right now over everything that’s going on,” Davison said.
Davison said Lucas had been part of the church since it was founded in 2008 and served as a volunteer overseer.
When asked what he would say to church members searching for answers, Davison said the church remains committed to its congregation.
“Anybody that’s been part of the Heritage Church community for any time knows our hearts, knows that we love them,” Davison said. “We will do anything and everything, especially to protect the next generation.”
Investigators said they are still working to identify possible victims. According to the arrest report, some of the material recovered dates back years.
When asked what message he would have for anyone who may have been affected, Davison said, “That we love them. We’re praying for them. We’re here for them.”
During Sunday’s service, Brock acknowledged the pain the allegations have caused within the church community.
“Our heart is broken over what’s taking place,” Brock said. “What’s taking place goes against everything that we believe.”
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active and additional charges could be filed as detectives continue working to identify potential victims.
