MINNESOTA
St. Cloud Times
David Unze, dunze@stcloudtimes.com May 26, 2015
HASTINGS – A Dakota County jury on Tuesday evening found Fran Hoefgen not guilty of accusations that he raped an altar boy more than 20 years ago at a Hastings church where he was a priest.
Hoefgen broke down and sobbed with friends and family after the verdicts were read. He left the courthouse without commenting.
The 36-year-old Red Wing man who accused Hoefgen of abuse from 1989 to 1992 hung his head in his hands after the verdicts were read. He left the courtroom before the hearing concluded.
Hoefgen was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The jury deliberated for about three hours before returning the verdicts.
After the verdicts were read, Hoefgen’s attorney, Michael Colich, said the charges and trial have weighed heavily on Hoefgen.
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