Benton County, Arkansas, pastor accused of using position to manipulate person into sex

GRAVETTE (AR)
40/29 News [Rogers, AR]

January 27, 2023

By Adam Roberts, DMM

Court documents accuse a Benton County pastor of using his position to manipulate a person at a faith-based addiction living facility into sex.

The Rev. Thomas Gilman Hartman, 53, is a founding member of Wings of Peace Ministry NW Arkansas in Gravette. He was arrested on charges of sexual assault third-degree and possession of firearm by certain person.

40/29 News reached out to Hartman through his ministry but has not heard back.

A man told police that he had met Hartman at a place called Freedom Seekers, a group that uses spiritual healing to help people with addiction and substance abuse issues, according to the court documents.

The man said Hartman let him move into his home for free and bought him presents, including a cellphone and a Jeep, to which he kept the title.

The man said Hartman played mind games and manipulated him into sex because Hartman knew the man didn’t have anywhere else to go. He said he felt trapped because he was on probation. He said he was afraid Hartman could call the bail bondsman and have his bond revoked.

When police interviewed Hartman, he said he thought the sex was consensual, according to the documents. He said it was a slip-up and a moral failure because he was married and had devoted his life to ministry.

In Arkansas, a person commits sexual assault in the third degree if they are “a member of the clergy and is in a position of trust or authority over the victim and uses the position of trust or authority to engage in sexual intercourse or deviant sexual activity.”

Hartman was arrested and released on a $150,000 bond. He was given a court date of Feb. 27, 2023.

Hartman was convicted of sexual assault in the second degree of a child in Wisconsin in 1998 and was released on parole in 2003, according to the court documents.

https://www.4029tv.com/article/thomas-gilman-hartman-pastor-accused/42691019