A local church and the surrounding community are reeling from the arrest of a man long seen as a strong pillar of faith and a leader in the booming building industry.
More details are being learned about 59-year-old Charles “Bart” Lucas of Fruitland Park, who worked for more than 25 years at the family-owned RoMac building supplies company and was in the top tier of “overseers” at Heritage Community Church in Fruitland Park.
Lucas is facing multiple charges of video voyeurism following his arrest Friday by Lake County sheriff’s deputies. He remains free on $25,000 bond.
No one saw this coming.
Lucas has been married since 1987 and over a dozen years, he and his wife hosted a “young adult Bible study group” in their home. In a social media post, Lucas said that more than 200 of the “sweetest kids” had visited their home for discussions about scripture. Lucas was central to the leadership at Heritage Community Church, rolling up his sleeves for many projects and leading in prayer. He was also active in Habitat for Humanity. Lucas and his wife became grandparents in 2020.
The carefully crafted image of faith and family began to shatter during a computer upgrade at RoMac, the booming building supply company where Lucas had climbed the ladder to become vice president of sales. A RoMac information technology staffer discovered inappropriate files on Lucas’ password-protected laptop, of which he had sole access, according to an arrest affidavit from the sheriff’s office. Videos were discovered that showed “unidentified subjects either using the bathroom and/or changing” and young girls who appeared “to be wet and being nude in the videos.” The technician had no idea where the videos were shot. The technician notified a top manager at RoMac of the discovery. The computer was slapped shut and immediately turned over to law enforcement.
A detective with the sheriff’s office began a detailed probe of the computer. There were images in which “a younger white female disrobes causing her breast to be fully visible” and another where “a white female wearing a green T-shirt and black bottoms, pulls her bottoms down and sits on top of a toilet.” The girls were less than 16 years old. Older women were also captured on video, using the toilet. The detective eventually concluded the videos had been shot at a bathroom at the church where Lucas allegedly surreptitiously set up a camera. The detective searched the Heritage Community Church website where he found a photograph of a smiling Lucas among the church’s leadership. The videos were apparently shot after baptisms at the church, where the faithful are immersed in water. The church baptism ceremonies have included 12 or more people at a time. Baptisms are a high point of many services.
On Saturday, the church issued the following statement:
“We were notified late Friday that one of our overseers, Bart Lucas, was arrested. At this time, we do not have all of the details, and we want to be careful not to speculate or speak beyond what we know.
Our primary concern is for any individuals or families who may have been impacted by these allegations. We recognize the seriousness of situations like this and the deep hurt, confusion, and pain they can cause. To anyone who may have been affected, we want you to know that you are seen, valued, and that we are committed to supporting you with care and compassion.
We also recognize that our prior statement may not have adequately communicated that concern. It was never our intention to diminish the seriousness of these allegations or the impact they may have had on others. We regret any hurt or misunderstanding that may have resulted and want to be clear that we take these matters seriously.
Heritage Community Church does not condone conduct that harms others or is inconsistent with our biblical values. We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and any other appropriate authorities and will continue to do so throughout this process.
While we await additional information, Heritage Community Church is committed to being open, honest, and transparent with our church family regarding information that we are able to share. As additional verified information becomes available, we will provide further updates as appropriate.
We ask for prayer for everyone involved—for any individuals or families who may have been impacted, for wisdom for those responsible for investigating these matters, and for truth, healing, and justice to prevail.”