MINNESOTA
Star Tribune
Article by: ROCHELLE OLSON , Star Tribune Updated: April 7, 2014
Court of Appeals found multiple errors in pastor’s Ramsey County District Court trial.
A Catholic priest from a St. Paul parish saw his conviction overturned Monday for sexual misconduct in a case involving a 21-year-old parishioner in 2003.
The state Court of Appeals sent the case of Christopher Thomas Wenthe back to Ramsey County District Court — possibly for a new trial, depending on what County Attorney John Choi decides.
The Court of Appeals ruled that Wenthe’s first trial in 2011 had three significant errors.
The 22-page ruling said that in sexual misconduct cases, the jury must unanimously agree that each incident occurred. Also, in cases of clergy sex abuse, prosecutors must prove that the defendant knew of the “religious or spiritual purpose of the meeting,” according to the decision written for a three-judge panel by Judge Gary Crippen.
More specific to this case, the court said Wenthe should have been able to question the alleged victim about her sexual history, despite rape-shield laws, because the woman portrayed herself through her own testimony as sexually inexperienced.
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