Maplewood Priest Accused of Sex Misconduct Appears in Court

By Emily Gurnon
The Pioneer Press
December 18, 2013

http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_24750852/maplewood-priest-accused-sex-misconduct-appears-court

Mark Andrew Huberty makes his way to Ramsey County District Court on Wednesday.

A Maplewood priest appeared in court for the first time Wednesday on a charge of criminal sexual conduct involving a woman in his parish.

Wearing a black suit and a clerical collar, the Rev. Mark Huberty waived his right to have an omnibus hearing within 30 days. That hearing, in which the judge will determine if there's probable cause to try him, was scheduled for Jan. 28.

Huberty, 43, has not been in custody.

Therese Galatowitsch, a special assistant Ramsey County attorney prosecuting Huberty, said the state will have "voluminous discovery" in the case. It will share that with the defense, as required, she said.

Huberty is on leave from his position as pastor of Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 1695 Kennard St., where he has worked since 2007.

He was charged Nov. 19 in Ramsey County District Court with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The criminal complaint alleges that he met regularly with a woman from his parish to discuss issues related to her faith. Huberty asked her to be his friend, and "explained that a rule of their friendship was that any touching would be above the waist and over clothing." He began to regularly visit her in her home, the complaint said.

As time went on, Huberty began to slip his hands under the woman's pants and fondle her buttocks, as well as fondle her breast while hugging her, the complaint said. He also asked her to touch his genitals, charges said.

The behavior occurred from January to April 2013, according to the complaint.

When Huberty canceled a trip the two were to take, the woman became upset.

"In a recorded telephone conversation, (he) revealed that other women friends seemed to have no problem remaining active in the church when their relationship with him ended," and he advised her there was no reason to tell her husband about their sexual activity, the complaint said.

"He admonished her to think about how it would negatively affect (him) if she reported him to authorities," the complaint said.

The woman went to Maplewood police May 1.

The priest went on leave and was removed from the church rectory in September pending the investigation.

Huberty's attorney, Paul Engh, has said Huberty has a different interpretation of what took place with the woman. Engh declined to comment after Wednesday's hearing at the Law Enforcement Center in St. Paul.

Hennepin County is handling the prosecution because Huberty was in the same high school class as Ramsey County Attorney John Choi.

 



Contact: egurnon@pioneerpress.com