Cult leader Victor Barnard back in Minnesota to face charges
Cult leader Victor Barnard back in Minnesota to face charges
Extradited from Brazil, he is now in the Pine County jail.
By Liz Sawyer Star Tribune
June 18, 2016 — 8:08pm
Cult leader Victor Barnard has been extradited from Brazil and was booked into the Pine County jail on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.
Barnard, now 54, who led the River Road Fellowship near Finlayson, Minn., faces 59 counts of first- and third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is accused of raping girls and young women from his isolated congregation, victims he called "maidens."
His accusers have said he twisted biblical passages to convince them that a sexual relationship with their pastor was just as much God's will as it was for King Solomon to have concubines.
Barnard fled to Brazil, was captured in February 2015 and had been imprisoned there ever since.
Even though that nation's Supreme Court had approved Barnard's extradition back to Minnesota, a dispute between Brazilian and U.S. authorities over any potential sentence delayed the move for several months. There had been concerns among U.S. authorities that the delay could last up to three years.
More:
http://www.startribune.com/accused-cult-leader-victor-barnard-back-in-minnesota/383521071/
