Church Youth Director Arrested for Sexual Assault
OMAHA, Neb. -- A licensed foster care parent and youth group director has been jailed on suspicion of sexually assaulting two children.
Mark Hild, 43, went before a judge Wednesday and agreed to allow his case to go straight to trial. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child.
Investigators said Hild assaulted an 11- and 13-year-old girl between September and November 2009. They said he knew the girls. Hild is accused of assaulting each girl several times.
Hild works for UPS and is a member of First Christian Church near 66th and Dodge streets. Until Wednesday, he was the church's youth director.
Pastor Rene Jensen didn’t want to go on camera, but instead released a statement.
"We grieve deeply for the Hild family in this extraordinarily difficult time and hold them in our prayers. At this time we have no reason to believe there are victims within the church, but are working with a team of professionals from Project Harmony to care for our youth and their families, whose well-being is our paramount concern."
Hild's parents were in court Wednesday. They said they just don't believe the claims.
But the two young girls are getting counseling, and investigators are wondering if more people will come forward with claims of abuse.
[Marty Bilek]
Marty Bilek
"These investigations are always tough," said Chief Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Marty Bilek. "These types of adults will look for places where they can go, events to get involved with that involve young children, exposure to young children, and contemplate next victim."
KETV NewsWatch 7 has learned Hild and his wife have been foster parents since 2002, and just recently started the adoption process.
Health and Human Services said it has halted that process. Six children have been removed from the couple's home.
Previous Stories:
Story Link
* March 3, 2010: Deputies Arrest Man On Sexual Assault Charges
Mark Hild, 43, went before a judge Wednesday and agreed to allow his case to go straight to trial. He has been charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child.
Hild works for UPS and is a member of First Christian Church near 66th and Dodge streets. Until Wednesday, he was the church's youth director.
Pastor Rene Jensen didn’t want to go on camera, but instead released a statement.
"We grieve deeply for the Hild family in this extraordinarily difficult time and hold them in our prayers. At this time we have no reason to believe there are victims within the church, but are working with a team of professionals from Project Harmony to care for our youth and their families, whose well-being is our paramount concern."
Hild's parents were in court Wednesday. They said they just don't believe the claims.
But the two young girls are getting counseling, and investigators are wondering if more people will come forward with claims of abuse.
[Marty Bilek]
Marty Bilek
"These investigations are always tough," said Chief Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Marty Bilek. "These types of adults will look for places where they can go, events to get involved with that involve young children, exposure to young children, and contemplate next victim."
KETV NewsWatch 7 has learned Hild and his wife have been foster parents since 2002, and just recently started the adoption process.
Health and Human Services said it has halted that process. Six children have been removed from the couple's home.
Previous Stories:
Story Link
* March 3, 2010: Deputies Arrest Man On Sexual Assault Charges
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