Church Worker Charged in Alleged Child Assault

Zachary Turnage, 34, who worked at Trinity Church’s after-school program in Lower Richland, South Carolina, was arrested after an investigation into alleged misconduct involving a child between 7 and 12 years old. The child’s mother told deputies she found inappropriate messages and images from Turnage on the child’s phone; investigators also allege he sexually touched the child at the church. Turnage was charged with second-degree assault and battery and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was released on an $8,000 bond and ordered to have no contact with the child or family and to stay away from the church. The sheriff’s department is urging parents whose children may have had contact with Turnage to speak with them and is asking any additional victims to come forward.