Minn. Cult Leader Receives Maximum Sentence

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Pine County man who plead guilty to sexually assaulting underage girls who were part of his religious cult was sentenced to a maximum prison sentence Friday.

Victor Barnard, 55, was charged with 59 counts of sexual abuse in 2014. He fled to Brazil and was captured by military police in early 2015.

Earlier this month, Barnard pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct as part of a plea deal. The other 57 charges were dropped as part of the deal.

Authorities accused Barnard of running a cult and creating a separate "Maidens Group" camp where he lived with girls and women aged 12 to 24.

Barnard was sentenced to 30 years in prison Friday according to the Pine County Attorney. At the sentencing, Barnard gave a brief statement saying Jesus Christ is his savior and God is good.