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By Marie Rossiter and Denise Wilson

Staff Writers

The preliminary hearing scheduled today, Oct. 7, for Charles Andy Garitson has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

The 23-year-old Monroe man was arrested by Hamilton Twp. police Monday, Sept. 29 for trying to meet with what he thought was a teenage boy for sex after chatting online, police said. He was released on his own recognizance after his arrest.

Warren County Court Judge Don Oda granted the state a continuance because the complaining officer had been taken to the hospital and was unable to appear in court. Garitson's attorney, Robert Kaufman, objected to the delay, saying that his client was present and ready to immediately proceed with the hearing as originally scheduled.

Garitson's arrest came after an undercover investigation in which officers were posing online as juveniles. Police said Garitson solicited sexual contact with a person he believed to be a 15-year-old male. He was met by undercover officers instead.

Pastor Barbara Dafler of the Park Avenue United Methodist Church said she would not talk about Garitson's arrest.

However, her blog entry on the church's Web site Tuesday, Sept. 30, stated: "Our music leader, Andy, is facing some serious consequences because of a choice he made yesterday. Please continue to keep him and his family in your prayers. Many people (including other churches) will be watching Park Ave. to see how we handle ourselves during this time. It is important that we live and act as Christ has instructed us," she said.

Besides serving as music director for the church, Garitson also served as orchestra director for a number of theater companies in the area where juvenile actors perform.

Hamilton Twp. police said they are investigating whether he had inappropriate sexual contact with juveniles.

"We're not alleging that any other events took place. We're just saying because of his involvement with those groups where there were multiple juveniles, we want to make sure that there were no other victims," said Hamilton Twp. police Lt. Jeff Braley .

Garitson, a former trombone player in Monroe Local Schools marching band, also helped at the district's pre-band and band camp this summer, said Monroe Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli.

"He ran rehearsals with other adults. All rehearsals were outside at band camp and he did not stay overnight at the camp. Numerous chaperones were at camp helping and the band director supervised each sectional rehearsal," she said.

Lolli said the district sent a note home Tuesday, 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.

According to his profile on the Web site Facebook.com, Garitson is employed by Kroger in Monroe and is a 2003 graduate of Lemon-Monroe High School.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.