MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press
By Sarah Horner
shorner@pioneerpress.comtwincities.com
Posted: 06/06/2012
A racquetball-size lump on Damian Burkhalter’s upper thigh could mean the difference between freedom and prison for the former church youth director now on trial, accused of first-degree sexual assault.
In opening remarks in his trial Wednesday, June 6, in Anoka County District Court, the Blaine man’s attorney told jurors she will use that large lump to disprove that the 48-year-old Burkhalter repeatedly kissed, touched and had oral sex with a then-14-year-old girl he met in the late summer of 2010, during his time as a youth director for Glen Cary Lutheran Church.
Burkhalter, who worked as a detention sergeant in Hennepin County before taking the job at the Ham Lake church, elected not to have the lump removed.
“The reason that was a life-changing decision is because in the multiple interviews (the girl) has had with Anoka County law enforcement … she has never been able to identify it,” defense attorney Jill Brisbois said.
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