A 55-year-old “ex-gay” pastor from
Cambridge, Minnesota has been sentenced for sexually molesting two
men.
Police arrested Ryan Jay Muehlhauser in
November. In February, he pleaded guilty to two felony counts of
criminal sexual conduct. He's been sentenced to 160 days in prison
and 10 years of probation and must register as a sex offender, the
Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported.
Muehlhauser assaulted the men in the
course of “curing” them of their unwanted sexual attractions to
men.
One of the victims, referred to only as
ABC, told investigators that he met Muehlhauser two years ago at an
event hosted by Outpost Ministries, a religiously affiliated group
which claims gay people can – and should – alter their sexual
orientation from gay to straight.
The counseling sessions, ABC told
investigators, included Muehlhauser “blessing” him by gently
cupping the victim's genitals in his hands. The victim was also
asked to masturbate while Muehlhauser prayed over him. Muehlhauser
called this “spiritual guidance.”
Judge John McBride chided Muehlhauser.
“Sir, you are a criminal, and these
are sexual criminal acts you performed. And what's most egregious
about this, is these were young men struggling with their own
sexuality and spirituality and you took advantage of both,” he
said.
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