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	Pastor Acquitted in Sexual Abuse Trial Jury Deliberates Six Hours By Mickey Tibbits The Free Press [Minnesota] April 3, 2006 http://www.mankatofreepress.com/local/local_story_093122935.html?keyword=topstory A former Waseca pastor has been found not guilty of all 10 charges of sexual abuse of a minor. A jury announced the verdict in the trial of Paul Stambaugh in the Waseca County courthouse late Friday afternoon after deliberating for about six hours. The 10 felony charges, both first and second degree, were based on incidents described in the criminal complaint by the juvenile, who was then 13 years old, while Stambaugh was the pastor at Faith United Methodist Church, on the west side of Clear Lake, and also a resident of Waseca. Stambaugh, 58, retired in July 2004 after serving as pastor of Faith United Methodist Church for four years. Currently a Kasson resident, Stambaugh had served in the ministry for more than 30 years. "We are delighted with the decision," said Richard Tollefson, Stambaugh's attorney. "The jury reached the correct decision." "The church has been very supportive of the entire family," said Neil Westby, current pastor of Faith United Methodist Church. "It's a tragedy of immense order." "Our hearts go out to them," he said. Members of the congregation and friends of Stambaugh had raised funds for his legal defense, according to Tollefson. A letter had been mailed to members of the Faith United Methodist Church asking for contributions. In April of 2005 the Waseca Police Department received a report that Stambaugh had sexually abused a child several times throughout 2003 when she was visiting the Stambaughs. The criminal complaint filed in July of 2005 states that the juvenile "was able to specifically describe seven different dates of abuse." These descriptions, stated in the criminal complaint, alleged that Stambaugh touched the juvenile's genitalia with his fingers and his penis and also that he performed oral sex. According to the juvenile, as reported in the criminal complaint, the alleged acts occurred both when she was alone with Stambaugh and when there were other people in other rooms of the house. Brenda Miller, assistant county attorney for Waseca, said that, unfortunately, there was no physical evidence to present and that the trial revolved around the conflicting statements made by the juvenile and Stambaugh. Search warrants were executed in 2005 at the parsonage where Stambaugh had lived and at the district church office, according to Miller. "Obviously the decision is up to the jury," said Miller. "But I wonder whether justice was done for the victim," she added. "I thought she was believable," Miller said. Tollefson said two character witnesses as well as Stambaugh's wife testified supporting the former pastor. "There was no testimony from the police or human services," Tollefson said, although the juvenile was interviewed by both Penny Vought, of the Waseca Police Department, and social workers. Robert Benson, Fillmore County, was the presiding judge. Had Stambaugh been found guilty, the minimum sentence for the first felony charge, which was criminal sexual conduct in the first degree involving multiple acts, under 2003 sentencing guidelines, would have been a minimum of 90 months incarceration.
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