Extradited Priest Accused Of Assaulting 2nd Person

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A judge has set bond at $1 million cash for a Roman Catholic priest extradited from his native India on accusations of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Minnesota.

The Rev. Joseph Jeyapaul was arraigned on criminal sexual conduct charges in Roseau County District Court Wednesday. Prosecutors also charged the 59-year-old priest with assaulting a second victim.

Prosecutors say he raped a girl multiple times in 2004 and 2005, starting when she was 14. Jeyapaul has denied the allegations.

Jeyapaul came to Minnesota in 2004 and served at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Greenbush at the time of the alleged abuse.

He returned to India in 2005 and while he was overseas, the Diocese of Crookston received allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old girl.