MINNESOTA
Fairmond Sentinel
July 9, 2013
Jodelle Greiner – Staff Write, Fairmont Sentinel
BLUE EARTH – Investigators and prosecutors want to know what are in files found on the computer of Father Leo Charles Koppala before proceeding with the case against him.
Koppala, who had been serving as priest for Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth, has been charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The charges stem from an incident June 7 in which Koppala allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a child under 13 years of age, with the defendant being more than 36 months older than the child. The charges allege that Koppala, 47, fondled the child while visiting the home where the child was staying.
The subject of the computer files came up Monday at Koppala’s contested omnibus hearing.
His attorney, Philip J. Elbert, asked Judge Douglas Richards to suppress evidence gathered from a search warrant, and recounted the numerous times he has requested that the prosecution turn over evidence, such as an audiotape of a statement Koppala gave to police.
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