ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A Roman Catholic priest will spend one year in the Ramsey County workhouse for criminal sexual conduct involving a woman he was counseling at a St. Paul church.
Forty-seven year old Christopher Wenthe, of Delano, began serving his confinement immediately following Wednesday's sentencing in Ramsey County Court. The judge also ordered him to pay up to $90,000 in restitution for the cost of the victim's medical treatment.
A jury convicted Wenthe in November of engaging in illegal sexual conduct with the victim in November or December of 2003. During that time, the woman was seeking spiritual advice and counsel from Wenthe, who was working as a priest at Nativity Catholic Church in St. Paul.
Wenthe will be on probation for 15 years and must register as a predatory offender.
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