Woman Sues Former St. Paul Priest for Restitution

Grand Forks Herald
February 6, 2012

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/228629/group/homepage/

ST. PAUL — A woman who accused a former St. Paul priest of inappropriate sexual conduct wants him to pay $42,000 in restitution.

The female parishioner at Nativity of Our Lord has asked court to have Christopher Wenthe pay $42,000 in restitution.

A jury convicted Wenthe of third-degree criminal sexual conduct Nov. 15 for having sex with the woman in 2003 when she sought spiritual counseling.

But Ramsey County Judge Margaret Marrinan suggested at sentencing it would be appropriate for her to request restitution because her mother had spent a great deal of money to treat an eating disorder exacerbated by Wenthe's abuse.

Wenthe's attorney, Paul Engh, said he's appealing the conviction and has not had a chance to discuss the restitution issue with Wenthe.