Ex-Maplewood priest: Woman testifies 'friendship' for Huberty meant 'sexual things'

By Emily Gurnon And Marino Eccher
Pioneer Press
December 3, 2014

http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_27061986/ex-maplewood-priest-woman-testifies-friendship-huberty-meant

Mark Andrew Huberty

The woman who accused the Rev. Mark Huberty of becoming sexually involved with her while providing spiritual advice testified Wednesday that she went to the police so that he would not be placed in another parish.

She got to know Huberty when he arrived at his most recent church, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maplewood.

The woman told the Ramsey County jury deciding his case that he asked her in January 2013 if she would be his friend.

"He was very lonely at that time," she said. "I was just so excited to have a male friend where there would be no sexual innuendo, no sex at all."

For several years, she had sought spiritual counsel and advice from him, beginning when a family member suddenly died. She told Huberty about her struggles with depression, anxiety and stress.

But she soon found out that his definition of "friendship" meant "physical actions going on, sexual things without sex," the woman said.

Huberty, 44, has been charged with fourth- and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct. The former charge alleges he had sexual contact with the woman while providing spiritual aid or comfort in private. Under Minnesota law, that is a felony for a clergy member.

The Pioneer Press generally does not identify complainants in sexual abuse cases.

The woman said the sexual contact happened in Huberty's car, in her home and on trips on his private plane (Huberty is a pilot). On several occasions, she said, it involved him taking off his pants and her stimulating him.

They did not have intercourse.

The contact began in January and continued until mid-April 2013. Huberty set rules -- no touching between the waist and the knees, for instance -- but then would immediately break them, the woman said.

At the time, she said she told him, " 'I suppose I need to come up with a new confessor and a new spiritual adviser,' and he said, 'I don't see why.' "

When she expressed reservations about the relationship, Huberty would break things off for days, sometimes a week.

"And I wanted to keep him as a friend," she said.

Defense attorney Paul Engh focused his questions to emphasize how the woman participated in the conduct.

"You're an adult," he said. "You know how to make decisions."

The woman admitted that the relationship was exciting for her.

Engh also suggested that the accuser was "motivated to get a conviction here, are you not?"

She said that was not her goal. "My goal is that he can't go to another parish."

She denied she planned to sue Huberty, saying a potential lawsuit would name the archdiocese, not the priest, as the defendant.