Former Lake George Pastor Charged with 15 Sex Abuse Crimes

KSAX
March 8, 2012

http://ksax.com/article/stories/S2530379.shtml?cat=10230


A former Lake George pastor is in custody, charged with having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Seventy-year-old Darwin Schauer of Laporte was arrested this week on 15 charges of criminal sexual conduct after allegedly having sex with a girl since 2009, when she was 15 years old.

According to the criminal complaint, the victim felt threatened by Schauer to have sex with him, and she said that it happened twice a week.

During the investigation, authorities said Schauer admitted to the crimes, but later gave a statement saying he had a position of authority over the girl, and didn't begin having sex with her until around her 18th birthday in 2011. Schauer did tell police he had kissed and touched the victim while she was a minor.

Authorities have not said where the assaults happened in Hubbard County, or what Schauer's relationship with the victim is.

Schauer is in custody in Park Rapids with conditional bail set at $750,000.

He's charged with six counts of 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, two counts in the 2nd Degree, and seven counts in the 3rd Degree.

He faces up to 30 years in prison and a $40,000 fine. His next court date is set for Mar. 19.

Schauer was reportedly a pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake George from 1998 to 2006.

Written for the web by Joe Nelson.

jnelson@ksax.com