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He used religion to coerce parents into handing over their first-born girls. In 5 years, he could go free
Victor Barnard exploited religious authority to sexually abuse underage girls over a decade, with a 24-year sentence and earliest release expected in 2031, Minnesota officials said.
- Victor Arden Barnard pleaded guilty to two counts of first‑degree criminal sexual conduct at River Road Fellowship near Finlayson, Minnesota.
- Barnard recruited first‑born daughters called 'maidens' from congregants, framing abuse as divinely commanded and drawing followers through ties to the organization.
- Victims were taken from families to live under Barnard's supervision, where he demanded obedience, and Pine County Sheriff's Office received early complaints before building a case that led to his arrest on Feb. 27, 2015.
- Barnard fled and was later returned under extradition conditions imposed by the Brazilian government; an appeals court reduced his sentence, and the Minnesota Department of Corrections anticipates his release on Feb. 27, 2031.
- Barnard's trajectory through Way International set the stage for an extremist encampment and national recruitment, inflicting layered harm on victims.
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He used religion to coerce parents into handing over their first-born girls. In 5 years, he could go free
Victor Barnard faced 59 charges related to criminal sexual conduct at a rural Minnesota religious compound when he fled the country in 2014. He was found months later at a beach house in Brazil.
·Fargo, United States
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left0Leaning Right10Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution67% Right
Bias Distribution
- 67% of the sources lean Right
67% Right
C 33%
R 67%
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