Cape Coral man accused of raping teen being held without bond

Writer: Carolina Guzman
Published: Updated:
Christian Hartman Credit: The Lee County Sheriff’s Office

The Cape Coral man who allegedly told a teenage girl to get into his van and then raped her will be held without bond.

Twenty-eight-year-old Christian Hartman appeared in court Tuesday morning with his attorney, where the judge said given the nature of the violent crime, Hartman will be held without bond.

Hartman’s defense attorney argued his client had little to no criminal history and no past or present patterns of behavior.

Maybell Hartman, Hartman’s mother, wept in court and said her son suffers from mental health issues, including Asperger’s, and has a problem with age.

Cape Coral police said Hartman lied to the 15-year-old victim and told her that he had just turned 18.

When they met up at a park, police said Hartman told her to get inside his van and then proceeded to have sexual intercourse with her.

According to police, Hartman asked the victim to enter his van to listen to music.

The teen told police the van had no seats, only a mattress.

When police questioned Hartman, they said he made a full confession. Hartman faces one count of sexual battery.

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