Fmr. Canton Pastor Arrested for Having Sex with Minor

By Jill Johnson
KDLT
October 9, 2014

http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38946&Itemid=57

A former South Dakota pastor is accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl.

The 49-year-old man was indicted on several charges by a Lincoln County grand jury. According to the indictment, Anthony Haglund was taken into custody in Sumter County, Florida without incident on Monday afternoon.

Haglund was once in a position of trust. Now the former pastor is being charged with having sex with a minor who, court papers say, was dependent on him.

Lincoln County States Attorney Tom Wollman said, "There was a relationship that existed our victim and the defendant here and it's a very unique relationship and a relationship that's protected by law and prohibits the conduct we've alleged in the indictment."

Wollman says the incidents occurred between Jan. 1, 2012 and Dec. 31, 2013. At that time, Haglund was working as a pastor at Canton Lutheran Church. The same church that the victim attended.

Wollman said, "She was age 15 when this event started. Beyond that the date range she would have been 16 and older."

Haglund is being charged with three counts of sexual penetration by a psychotherapist. He's also being charged with sexual contact with a child under of the age of 16 with an alternate count of sexual contact by a psychotherapist. Wollman says the charges are unique in nature.

"In my 14 years of prosecution, I haven't come across this particular offense or we haven't charged this particular offense in Lincoln County in my time here," said Wollman.

He says the statute is meant to protect those who are seeking counseling. Everyone from alcohol and drug abuse counselors and psychologists to pastors are subject to these charges.

The South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America says they requested Haglund's resignation as soon as they became aware of the alleged misconduct. He resigned on Sept. 15 of last year. KDLT did also reach out to Canton Lutheran Church. The pastor of the church declined to comment.

Haglund is in jail in Florida on a $500,000 cash bond. If Haglund waives extradition, he would likely be back in Lincoln County in about 10 days. If convicted, he faces up to 45 years in prison.