Fugitive Pastor Captured - Authorities in Brazil have arrested a 53-year-old American pastor wanted in Minnesota for 59 counts of sexual assault.
Reports indicate that Victor Arden Barnard was captured on Friday. He disappeared last year after being accused of abusing two young girls ,who were members of his congregation.
Barnard, a pastor of the River Road Fellowship located at a large camp site near Finlayson, Minnesota, was wanted by Pine County authorities and the Sheriff's Office for the alleged crimes.
The fugitive pastor, who was last seen in 2014 in Raymond, Washington, was featured on the U.S. Marshal's 15 Most Wanted list with a $250,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
"The malicious crimes allegedly committed by Victor Barnard make him a significant threat to the community. The women and men of the U.S. Marshals are committed to locating and apprehending this vile fugitive so that he can finally face justice," said U.S. Marshals Service Director Stacia Hylton.
Prosecutors in Pine County issued a criminal complaint accusing Barnard of sexual assault in April 2014 following a two-year investigation into allegations made by two young women members of his church. They were aged 12 and 13.
CNN reports reveal that in June 2000, Barnard convinced some of his loyal followers to allow their first-born daughters to live with him on the secluded campsite.
The group of 10 girls, who were required to be virgins, were called the 'Alamoths' and 'The Maidens.'
"Everything that a wife would do, they did for him," said Ruth Johnson, former member of the church,, which fell apart in 2012.
"He taught that in the Bible, the church was the bride of Christ and because he was Christ and because he Christ in the flesh, the church was supposed to be married to him," said Lindsay Tornambe who was part of 'The Maidens'.
Barnard also admitted to having affairs with married women in his church, despite his crimes reports indicate that his old flocks were still reluctant to cooperate with investigators.
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