Youth Pastor Gets 1 Year on Child Sex Charges
The youth minister and principal of a school associated with Christian Family Church in Owatonna has been sentenced a 21-month prison term, stayed for five years, and 364 days in jail.
Luverne Daniel Zacharias, 46, of Medford was remanded to custody immediately after the sentencing Monday; he has no credit for time served. He was charged in February with one count each of first- and second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and two counts each of third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, all felonies.
Zacharias pleaded guilty July 25th to the second-degree charge, victim 13–15, position of authority; in exchange for the plea, the remaining counts were dismissed. In addition to the jail time, Zacharias must register as a predatory offender and stay away from the victim.