A Conemaugh Township school board member is facing felony charges. Brian Eppley was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with unlawful restraint and corruption of minors. Police said Eppley serves as a deacon at a local Somerset County church, where they said he met the alleged victim and had the contact over a span of five years.

"The Conemaugh Township Police Department received a complaint from Somerset County Children and Youth on Aug. 6 that was alleging that the defendant was having inappropriate contact with juveniles," said Detective Michael Popma of the Conemaugh Township Police Department.

Police said Eppley is accused of having inappropriate contact with one young boy more than 75 times between 2007 and 2012. Police said it happened most often at the Maple Springs Church of the Brethren in Jerome.

"Basically he was encouraging the young children to leave a group of folks and go into an unoccupied room of the church," said Popma. "While inside the unoccupied room, he was requesting that the victim remove his shoes and place his feet in the face of the defendant."

But police said the contact also happened at other locations in Conemaugh Township, including the child's home, as well as the Lions Club and the Historical Society, both in Davidsville.

Police said Eppley is a current school board member for the Conemaugh Township School District and a former teacher in the Meyersdale School District, where he recently resigned. Police said there's no evidence that the contact occurred in either school district, but said the district attorney's office is investigating.

"It's important that the public know of the charges in which Mr. Eppley is charged with, in the event that other victims exist," said Popma.

Conemaugh Township School District Superintendent Gary Buchsen told 6 news Wednesday, that he had just learned of the allegations and charges against Eppley so he couldn't not comment. But he said the school board plans to meet with Eppley in the next couple of days, before they decide how to move forward.