MINNESOTA
KARE
[with video]
Jay Olstad, KARE
PINE CITY, Minn. – Authorities have issued a nationwide warrant for the arrest of a preacher charged with sexually assaulting at least two girls in Pine County.
Victor Barnard, 52, is accused of leading a cult in Finlayson several years ago and sexually assaulted young girls as late as 2009, according to the charges.
“He’s able to keep them isolated and become the authority figure,” said Pine County Chief Deputy Steve Blackwell.
Chief Deputy Blackwell said it is that isolation Barnard used to manipulate and threaten girls as young as 12 and 13 to have sex with him.
According to the complaint, he assaulted at least two girls who were raised to believe they had to do what he wanted, telling them he was the “Christ in the flesh.”
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