Crime & Safety
Columbus, OH Catholic Foundation Executive Charged After Online Child Abuse Probe
Columbus, OH – A Catholic Foundation executive was arrested Thursday following a months long investigation into allegations involving online sexual communications with a teenage victim, the Franklin C
By Paige Sullivan · 2026-10-01T18:47:08.487Z
Columbus, OH – A Catholic Foundation executive was arrested Thursday following a months long investigation into allegations involving online sexual communications with a teenage victim, the Franklin County Sheriff ’s Office announced.
According to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office , its Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at the home of Scott Richard Hartman, 49 , on Oct. 1, where he was taken into custody without incident.
Authorities said the investigation began in April after a teenage victim reported to school counselors that she had allegedly been involved in an online relationship with Hartman. Investigators allege the communications included sexually explicit video calls and exchanges of nude images and videos over approximately six months.
The sheriff’s office also alleges Hartman attempted to arrange an in person sexual encounter with the teenager and encouraged her to delete evidence and conceal the fact that she was a minor.
Hartman is identified in the release as senior vice president and chief development officer of The Catholic Foundation , which supports Catholic causes throughout the 23 county Diocese of Columbus.
Investigators said one or more social media accounts allegedly connected to the communications were shut down and reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
The sheriff’s office said Hartman was taken into custody Thursday and reported that he confessed to the allegations. Multiple electronic devices were seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities said Hartman was initially charged with grooming , a first degree misdemeanor; pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor , a fourth degree felony; and pandering obscenity involving a minor , also a fourth degree felony.
Additional charges could be filed as investigators review the seized evidence.
All charges are allegations. Hartman is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.