Appeals Court Orders New Trial for St. Paul Priest

By Megan Stewart
KSTP
April 7, 2014

http://kstp.com/news/stories/S3390794.shtml

The Minnesota Appeals Court is reversing a sexual misconduct conviction and ordering a new trial for a St. Paul priest accused of having sex with a woman seeking spiritual advice.



The Appeals Court says the lower court made several errors during Christopher Wenthe's trial.



Wenthe was convicted in 2011 of third-degree criminal sexual conduct after a woman reported a relationship with the priest that happened years earlier.



The Appeals Court says the trial judge should have told jurors they had to unanimously agree on a single meeting during which the crime occurred. In addition, prosecutors had to prove Wenthe knew the meeting had a religious purpose.



Ramsey County Attorney John Choi calls the decision "a tough one to accept." Wenthe's attorney says the priest is thankful for the court's decision.