A longtime fundraising executive for the Catholic Foundation of Ohio was arrested Thursday and immediately fired after investigators accused him of grooming a teenager online and trading sexually explicit material involving a minor. Scott Hartman, 49, who served as senior vice president and chief development officer for the foundation, was taken into custody following a search of his home by the Franklin County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
A spokesperson for the Catholic Diocese of Columbus confirmed Hartman was terminated from his executive role the moment his arrest became known, according to 10TV. The foundation said it is fully cooperating with law enforcement and maintains strict background check protocols for its staff. As reported by WSYX, the Franklin County Sheriff's Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force confirmed the arrest, which followed the execution of a search warrant at Hartman's home on Thursday.
How the Investigation Unfolded
According to WSYX, the case traces back to April 2026, when a teenage victim reported an online relationship with Hartman to school counselors. The station's report describes how the teen and Hartman allegedly exchanged text messages and video calls involving sex acts, along with nude images and videos, over roughly six months. Communications reviewed by investigators reportedly showed Hartman attempted to meet the teenager in person for sex and later convinced the victim to delete the evidence.
Per the same account, Hartman also attempted to hide the fact that the victim was a minor. One or more of his alleged social media accounts were shut down and reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office's media release. Investigators with the ICAC Task Force seized multiple electronic devices from his home as part of the search. WSYX reported that Hartman confessed to the allegations after being taken into custody.
Charges Carry New Ohio Grooming Statute
Formal charges against Hartman include grooming under Ohio Revised Code § 2907.071(B), pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor under § 2907.322(A)(5), and pandering obscenity involving a minor, according to the sheriff's office. Ohio's grooming statute is a relatively new addition to state law, having taken effect on April 9, 2025, under House Bill 322, which penalizes adults 18 or older who engage in a pattern of conduct intended to entice, coerce, or solicit a minor under 16 into sexual activity, per the Ohio Revised Code. Authorities said additional charges may follow, according to WSYX.
Under the charging structure, grooming is a first-degree misdemeanor while the pandering offenses are fourth-degree felonies. Fourth-degree felony pandering convictions in Ohio can carry prison terms ranging from 6 to 18 months per count and trigger mandatory Tier II sex offender registration requiring bi-annual reporting for 25 years, according to the Koffel Law Firm.
A Two-Decade Career Across Diocesan Institutions
Hartman's professional ties to the Diocese of Columbus ran deep. He had been employed by the Catholic Foundation since 2002, first serving 11 years as Director of Donor Administration before leaving in 2013 and returning in 2017 as Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, according to the Catholic Foundation of Ohio. In between, from 2013 to 2018, he served as development director and assistant girls' soccer coach at St. Francis DeSales High School, and he also served as Board Chair of The Catholic Museum of Art and History in Columbus.
The Catholic Foundation supports Catholic causes throughout the 23-county Diocese of Columbus. Hartman served as senior vice president and chief development officer for the foundation.
Part of a Broader Regional Pattern
The Franklin County Sheriff's Office ICAC Task Force investigated Hartman's case. A separate investigation by the Willoughby Police Department resulted in a Lake County caregiver being sentenced on September 22 to 2 to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, as Hoodline previously reported.
Hartman's case remains in its early stages, and authorities have indicated additional charges may follow. It is not yet known whether forensic examination of the seized devices will reveal additional victims or lead to further counts.
