MINNESOTA
Fox 47
BLUE EARTH, Minn. (FOX 47) — A Roman Catholic priest remains behind bars in Blue Earth after an appearance Monday afternoon in which he was advised of his rights.
Father Leo Koppala, 47, is charged with second degree criminal sexual conduct after an alleged fondling incident involving a 12-year-old girl in the basement of one of his parishioners.
Bond has been set at $75,000 for Fr. Koppala, who is a native of India. As of late Monday, he had not posted bail and remained in the Faribault County Jail.
Fr. Koppala has been serving at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth for nearly four years. After arriving in the U.S. from the Diocese of Dellore, India back in October of 2008, he had served in the Resurrection R.C. parish in Rochester until July 31, 2009. After his arrest last week, the Diocese of Winona placed Fr. Koppala on administrative leave pending the resolution of the criminal charge.
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