FAYETTE COUNTY, Pa. — Charges have been filed against a former youth pastor accused of the indecent assault of a teenager.
Channel 11 first told you about the allegations against Zachary Hertlein, 25, in July. He was a youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Fairchance when the alleged incident took place.
According to the alleged victim’s mother, the girl was on a mission trip in Huntingdon County in late June with Hertlein, his wife and several other teenagers. The alleged victim, 15, disappeared one night during the festival. The girl’s mother said her daughter allegedly emerged from the woods with Hertlein following behind.
Hertlein was fired from the church after the allegations surfaced. He had been in that position for three years.
He’s now facing charges of corruption of minors, indecent assault without consent and indecent assault of a person less than 16 years of age.
The alleged victim’s mother said while her family is still involved in the church and youth group, what happened has changed the way she trusts others.
“I do hope justice is served,” she told
. “I do hope he serves time for this. I mean, he made suck a large impact not only on my child, myself, the kids in youth group, the church, the parents of the kids. It’s just such a large ripple effect.”
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