A fugitive pastor included in the Most Wanted List for allegedly assaulting two young girls in Minnesota has been caught in Brazil, according to the US Marshals.
The American pastor, identified as Victor Barnard is currently facing 59 counts of sexual assault in rural Pine County.
In an interview with USA Today, Thomas Volk, US Marshalls spokesperson said that the 53 year old pastor was arrested in Pipa Beach and will be detained in Brazil for the meantime pending extradition to the United States.
"Through an extensive fugitive investigation, information was developed that Barnard was living in Brazil. Barnard was taken into custody without incident," the Service's official statement read.
Barnard, who led the River Road Fellowship congregation from 1990, set up a "Shepherd's Camp" in Minneapolis in 2000 where he allegedly convinced members of the congregation to send their young daughters to him to become part of his Maidens Group.
When his activities started to draw suspicion a decade later, Barnard moved the church and his family to Washington before he disappeared.
One of Barnard's accusers said that she was abused by Barnard from the age of 13 to 22. The other accuser said she experienced sexual abuse from the time she was 12 years old until she was 20.
According to authorities, Barnard used religious coercion to control the women, claiming that they would remain virgins because he was a Man of God.
In 2014, Barnard was included in the US Marshals 15 Most Wanted List after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. His capture carried a reward of $25,000.
"The malicious crimes allegedly committed by Victor Barnard make him a significant threat to the community. The women and men of the US Marshals are committed to locating and apprehending this vile fugitive so that he can finally face justice," said Marshals Service Director Stacia Hylton at the time.
