MINNESOTA
Pioneer Press
By Emily Gurnon
egurnon@pioneerpress.com
POSTED: 05/15/2014
The woman involved in the criminal sexual conduct case of a Maplewood priest has received threatening letters, and the prosecutor wants a sample of the priest’s DNA to see if he may have sent them.
The state argued for the sample Thursday in the Ramsey County District Court case of the Rev. Mark Huberty. Huberty, former pastor of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary church in Maplewood, has been charged with fourth- and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving an adult woman of the parish.
The woman “has received at least five cards or other correspondences” from an anonymous sender, said prosecutor Therese Galatowitsch. They contained “very disturbing references to the Bible, what an evil person she is, even her parents, how they spawned an evil child,” she said.
Galatowitsch asked Judge Patrick Diamond to allow the prosecution to test a buccal swab, or swipe from inside Huberty’s cheek.
Huberty’s attorney, Paul Engh, opposed the motion.
“Father Huberty had nothing to do with this,” Engh said. “He’s never been in contact with the alleged victim here (since charges were filed). This is an attempt to smear him once again.”
He said the state has had the letters for six months.
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