MINNESOTA
Fairbault County Register
June 16, 2013
by Paula Gibbins – Register Staff Writer (pgibbins@faribaultcountyregister.com) , Faribault County Register
The priest at St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth is facing criminal charges.
Father Leo Charles Koppala was charged with 2nd-degree criminal sexual conduct in Faribault County District Court on Monday, June 10.
The alleged victim was an 11-year-old girl.
The incident allegedly occurred on Friday, June 7.
Koppala was arrested by Blue Earth Police Chief Tom Fletcher on Saturday, June 8 in the early evening.
According to the complaint, Koppala had been invited to the victim’s grandmother’s home for dinner on the evening of Friday, June 7.
At some point during the evening, the grandmother received a phone call. The alleged victim was in the basement watching TV when Koppala came downstairs as well.
The complaint states that the defendant kissed the victim on the cheeks and lips. It also states, “(The victim) said that Koppala put one hand on her lower back and the other hand on her chest.”
Also while downstairs with the victim, the complaint states the defendant, “told (the victim) that when she was done with school, he wanted to come to her house so they could be free together. Koppala told (the victim) that he loved her.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.