Jury Convicts Minn. Priest Of Sexual Misconduct
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A jury has convicted a Roman Catholic priest of sexual misconduct involving a woman he was counseling at a St. Paul church.
Jurors Tuesday convicted the Rev. Christopher Wenthe of Delano on one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Wenthe was convicted of engaging in illegal sexual conduct with the victim in late 2003, when she sought spiritual counseling. He was acquitted of a second charge that he engaged in continuing illegal sexual conduct with the woman until February 2005.
The Star Tribune reports that Wenthe testified he had a sexual relationship with the woman but denied providing spiritual aid when the sex occurred.
Sentencing is set for Dec. 14.
The Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis says it regrets the woman's "pain and suffering" and continues to offer her assistance.
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