Alleged cult fugitive charged with sexual assault spotted in Washington

Nancy Lebens
St. Paul, Minn.

Share

Victor Barnard
The Washington State Patrol's Criminal Investigation Division has been assisting Minnesota's Pine County Sheriff's Office in attempts to locate a subject charged with 59 felony counts of Criminal Sexual Conduct involving two young females. On April 11, the Pine County Attorney's Office issued a criminal complaint against Victor Barnard. The charges result from a multi-year investigation by the Pine County Sheriff's Office into Barnard's behavior while he was ministering to a religious group in Northern Pine County.
Courtesy Washington State Patrol

A Minnesota man accused of raping teen girls was spotted in Washington State Wednesday, according to the Washington State Patrol.

Authorities are searching for 52 year-old Victor Barnard, who was charged by Minnesota prosecutors in April for child molestation when he was part of a religious group in Pine County.

The state patrol said it received a credible tip from someone who saw Barnard drive away from a McDonalds in a small town west of Olympia. The state patrol says a white female was with him at the time.

• April 2014: New details on Christian leader facing 59 charges of criminal sexual conduct

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.

Providing Support for MPR.
Learn More
Program ScheduleStation Directory