COLUMBIA — After a company member at a local theater was indicted on charges related to the attempted production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, the theater has now offered a detailed response.

Trustus Theatre, the city’s lone professional company that performs primarily for adult audiences, posted its response to social media on July 30, two days after the charges were announced.

What are the charges?

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina said Jonathan Andrew Monk, 44, who was also previously the theater director at Heathwood Hall, was indicted by a grand jury on nine child sexual abuse material charges. That private Episcopal school teaches students in grades pre-K through 12th grade.

• This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative aimed at combatting child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

• Monk faces a maximum of penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum of 15 years if convicted.

What was Monk’s role at Trustus?

Monk was a member of the company at Trustus, meaning he performed in many of the theater’s productions and was paid for his service to the theater. He also directed shows there.

In addition, “Monk has previously taught acting classes for high school students through the Trustus Summer Symposium, ending in 2024,” the theater said July 30.

The theater said in its response that it found out about the charges on July 28.

What was the theater’s response?

Kelsey Mesa, the theater’s executive artistic director, told The Post and Courier on July 28 that theater was aware of the indictment against Monk.

“We remain committed to the safety of our community,” she said.

In the fleshed-out response issued July 30, Trustus called the allegations “serious and distressing” and said it is treating them as such. The theater additionally noted that it does not have any information beyond what has been reported to the public.

“Trustus has spent years building and refining our policies and procedures to maintain a safe and healthy space for creating and attending theatre,” the theater said. “The safety and wellbeing of our community — our artists, staff, students, volunteers, and audiences ― remains our highest priority, and we will continue to review and strengthen those safeguards.

“We are committed to moving forward as responsibly and transparently as can be while this matter is ongoing,” the theater added.