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  St. Paul Sex Sting Nets Three Men, Including Two Pastors

Associated Press, carried in Duluth News Tribune [St. Paul MN]
Downloaded May 17, 2003

ST. PAUL - A priest at a Rochester, Minn., parish and the pastor of a Woodbury, Minn., church are among three men charged with groping undercover police officers in a St. Paul park.

The Rev. Edward Francis McGrath was put on a leave of absence from his duties as pastor of Pax Christi church in Rochester on Thursday morning, according to Ivan Kubista, spokesman for the Diocese of Winona.

The gross misdemeanor complaints against the three men say the St. Paul police vice unit ran a sting at Crosby Farm Park on May 7 after getting numerous complaints of open sex acts in the park.

All three men were charged with fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct, which involves nonconsensual sexual contact.

Pax Christi referred calls about McGrath, 48, to the diocese.

According to a statement read by Kubista, McGrath would stay on leave until the investigation is finished.

Also charged was Jonathan J. Marxhausen, 38, of Woodbury. He is pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Woodbury.

The third man charged was James R. Marshall, 46, of St. Paul.

 
 

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