Former Mn Pastor Arrested in Brazil for Alleged Sex Crimes

KAAL
March 1, 2015

http://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S3720638.shtml?cat=10242

[with video]

A Minnesota man wanted for 59 felony counts of criminal sexual assault from allegations that he abused young women while acting as their pastor was arrested in Brazil Friday.

According to the U.S. Marshals Service, District of Minnesota, 53-year-old Victor Arden Barnard was arrested in Pipa, Rio Grande do Norte—the northernmost part of Brazil.

Barnard allegedly assaulted young women at a compound he established in Finlayson called River Road Fellowship.

According to a report from the U.S. Marshals Service, Barnard recruited members from all over the country to attend services at the compound and convinced several of his followers to allow their daughters to live with him there.

Barnard reportedly sexually assaulted those women from 2000 to 2009. He left Minnesota for Washington after several followers began questioning his relationship with his female followers. He was charged with the 59 counts of sexual assault in April 2014 and has been one of the U.S. Marshals’ 15 Most Wanted since then.

Barnard is currently in custody in Brazil, pending formal extradition to the United States to stand trial for the sexual assault charges.