Attorney: Minnesota Sect Leader to be Extradited From Brazil

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - A religious sect leader will be extradited from Brazil to face charges that he sexually abused girls in rural Minnesota.

An attorney for 54-year-old Victor Barnard says the Brazilian Supreme Court approved the extradition.

Defense attorney Marsh Halberg says Barnard requested the expedited decision. Barnard was arrested in Brazil last year after being on the most-wanted list of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Reports say no extradition date has been set.

Barnard was charged in April 2014 in Pine County with 59 counts of criminal sexual conduct for allegedly having sexual relationships with two girls he had inducted into his "Maidens Group" at the River Road Fellowship's secluded compound near Finlayson.

Pine County Attorney Reese Frederickson confirmed that Brazilian authorities have agreed to extradite Barnard, but said he does not know the timeline.