An ex-church leader has entered a plea after allegedly installing cameras in the ladies’ restroom at his former house of worship.
Charles “Bart” Lucas, 59, a former “overseer” at Heritage Community Church in Fruitland Park pleaded not guilty this week in Lake County Court to charges of video voyeurism. He remains free on $25,000 bond.
Lucas, the former vice president of sales at the RoMac building supply company, was arrested June 19 on multiple counts of video voyeurism after inappropriate images were discovered on his company-issued laptop. Investigators believe the images were captured by a camera planted in a ladies’ restroom at Heritage Community Church. The footage reportedly included images of young girls changing clothes or toweling off after a baptism ceremony.
A condition of his release strictly prohibits him from using the internet. His attorney has filed a motion in Lake County Court seeking a modification of the internet restriction. The motion requests that Lucas be allowed internet access for “banking purposes and potential job opportunities.” It further specifies that he be granted access to his personal Gmail account.