Former MN cult leader accused in rapes may be extradited soon from Brazil
A former Minnesota religious leader accused of raping two girls who were part of his ministry may soon be extradited to the United States from Brazil.
In 2014, prosecutors in Pine County charged 54-year-old Victor Barnard with 59 counts of criminal sexual conduct. The charges say he assaulted the girls between 2000 and 2009, when he led the River Road fellowship near Finlayson, Minn.
Police arrested him last year in northeastern Brazil.
Defense attorney Marsh Halberg says his client requested expedited extradition, and the Brazilian Supreme Court approved it.
"I haven't seen paperwork on this, but I've been told that the condition was put on by the Brazilian government that they would only extradite him if the United States would agree that if convicted he could not serve more than 30 years," Halberg said.
Halberg is not sure if American authorities will agree to those conditions.
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