54-year-old James A. Wertz of Roanoke, a youth leader at the Living Hope Fellowship in Troutville has been arrested for allegedly inappropriately touching a 16-year-old girl last summer.
Wertz has been charged with Sexual Battery By Force, Taking Indecent Liberties With a Minor and Simple Assault. He was released on $1,000 bond yesterday and ordered to have no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18.
Living Hope Fellowship Pastor Robert Moore released a statement earlier today,
Living Hope Fellowship is fully cooperating with the local authorities regarding the ongoing investigation of Jim Wertz. Mr. Wertz was removed as a volunteer youth worker at Living Hope Fellowship in February. We have full faith in the authorities and have no further comment at this time.
