Appeals Court Orders New Trial for St. Paul Priest

KTTC
April 7, 2014

http://www.kttc.com/story/25183112/appeals-court-orders-new-trial-for-st-paul-priest

The Minnesota Appeals Court is reversing a sexual misconduct conviction and ordering a new trial for a St. Paul priest accused of having sex with a woman seeking spiritual advice.

The Appeals Court says the lower court made several errors during Christopher Wenthe's trial.

Wenthe was convicted in 2011 of third-degree criminal sexual conduct after a woman reported a relationship with the priest that happened years earlier.

The Appeals Court says the trial judge should have told jurors they had to unanimously agree on a single meeting during which the crime occurred. In addition, prosecutors had to prove Wenthe knew the meeting had a religious purpose.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi calls the decision "a tough one to accept." Wenthe's attorney says the priest is thankful for the court's decision.