Catholic Priest Pleads Guilty to Criminal Sexual Assault

Dan Ruiter
March 17, 2014

http://www.keyc.com/story/24999040/catholic-priest-pleads-guilty-to-criminal-sexual-assault

A Catholic Priest pleads guilty to Criminal Sexual Conduct Monday.

Father Leo Koppala pleaded guilty to second degree criminal sexual conduct in a Faribault County Courtroom Monday. Koppala was a priest in Blue Earth at the time of the crime.

Investigators say Koppala inappropriately touched an 11-year-old girl at her home last June.

The Diocese of Winona put Koppala on leave while the case was in the courts.

According to the Faribault County Attorney, Koppala will face probation and no additional jail time.

However, he will face deportation to his native country of India and will have to register as a predatory offender if he returns to the U.S.

Koppala will be sentenced on March 31.