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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Lemon-Monroe High School graduate arrested in undercover investigation
Charles Andy Garitson of Monroe was arrested Monday, Sept. 29, for trying to have sex with who he thought was a teenage boy online. Garitson, 23, a music director of Park Avenue United Methodist Church in Hamilton and an employee at Kroger in Monroe, was arrested and charged with importuning and attempted unlawful sexual contact with a minor by Hamilton Twp. police. He was released on his own recognizance. Warren County Court Judge Don Oda rescheduled Garitson’s case during an appearance on Tuesday until Oct. 7, when he will have a preliminary hearing regarding his application to be represented by a public defender, court officials said. His arrest came after an undercover investigation in which officers were posing online as juveniles. Police said Garitson, of Britton Lane in Monroe, solicited sexual contact with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old male. He was met by undercover officers instead. Besides serving as music director for the church, Garitson also served as orchestra director for a number of area theater companies where juvenile actors perform. Hamilton Twp. police said they are investigating whether he had inappropriate sexual contact with any juveniles. On a Web site called Mainstreet Monroe, some Monroe residents voiced sadness Tuesday that Andy - a familiar and friendly face they have come into contact with at Kroger’s in Monroe - could be the same person arrested by police in an undercover operation. One resident asked other Monroe residents on the Web site to say a prayer for Andy and his parents, who she said are good people. Another said she has known Andy since he was a child and was surprised by his arrest. Obviously, his arrest is creating a wide range of emotions and concern by some Hamilton and Monroe parents who either know him and his family or whose children might have come into contact with him. Garitson, a former trombone player in Monroe Local Schools marching band, also helped at the district’s preband and band camp this summer, said Monroe Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli. She said Garitson ran rehearsals with other adults. All the rehearsals were outside at band camp and he did not stay overnight at the camp. Lolli said the district sent a note home Monday, Sept. 30, to parents whose children are members of the 33-unit marching band to let them know if they had any concerns to contact us immediately. Garitson is a 2003 graduate of Lemon-Monroe High School, district officials said. To get up to date information about Garitson go to pulsejournal.com.
