Monday, October 1, 2012

A former vicar at a Lutheran church in Topeka has been charged with a child sex crime.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Monday that Hugh Cranford faces two felony counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The charges were filed Wednesday in Shawnee County District Court.

No attorney is listed for Cranford in online court records.

Cranford, of Kingwood, Texas, was a student at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He began his vicarage at Faith Lutheran Church in July 2011, but was suspended by Concordia Seminary in June.

Seminary president Dale Meyer says the seminary acted immediately upon hearing about the allegations of misconduct. He also says the alleged incidents didn't take place at Faith Lutheran Church or Topeka Lutheran School.