Minnesota Cult Leader Sentenced to 24 Years for Sexually Abusing Underage Girls

Victor Arden Barnard pleaded guilty to abusing two minors at his religious compound in Pine County

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Victor Arden Barnard, the former leader of the River Road Fellowship religious group in Minnesota, was sentenced to 24 years in prison for sexually abusing underage girls he referred to as "maidens" at his rural compound. Barnard fled the country in 2014 after facing 59 charges of criminal sexual conduct, but was later found hiding in Brazil and extradited back to the U.S. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct in a plea deal.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers of religious extremism and the exploitation of vulnerable children and young women. Barnard used his position of authority within the River Road Fellowship to systematically abuse girls and young women over the course of more than a decade, until the abuse was finally reported to authorities. It raises questions about the need for greater oversight and accountability within insular religious communities.

The details

Barnard founded the River Road Fellowship near Finlayson, Minnesota in the 1990s. He referred to the underage girls he abused as "maidens" and claimed they were chosen by God to be part of his program. Barnard would select 10 new girls and young women each year, some as young as 12 years old, and remove them from their families to live with him at the compound. He convinced the victims that the sexual encounters were commanded and rewarded by God, and demanded their complete obedience.

  • In 2010, the local sheriff's office began receiving complaints of sexual assault against women over the age of 18 at the River Road Fellowship.
  • In 2012, two underage girls reported the abuse to the Pine County Sheriff's Office, leading to a criminal investigation.
  • In 2014, Pine County had developed a strong case against Barnard, with 59 charges of sexual abuse, but he fled the country and went into hiding in Brazil.
  • Barnard was found in a beach house in Brazil in February 2015 and extradited back to the U.S.
  • In 2016, Barnard pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and was sentenced to 24 years in prison.

The players

Victor Arden Barnard

The 53-year-old former leader of the River Road Fellowship religious group in Minnesota, who was convicted of sexually abusing underage girls he referred to as "maidens" at his rural compound.

River Road Fellowship

A religious organization founded by Barnard near Finlayson, Minnesota in the 1990s, where he carried out his abuse of underage girls.

Pine County Sheriff's Office

The local law enforcement agency that investigated the allegations of sexual abuse at the River Road Fellowship and eventually built a case against Barnard.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't view him as a real leader of his peers or a hard-charging personality.”

— Karl Kahler, Former classmate of Barnard (Star Tribune)

What’s next

The Minnesota Department of Corrections anticipates that Barnard will be released from prison on February 27, 2031, after serving at least two-thirds of his 24-year sentence.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability within insular religious communities, where leaders can exploit their position of authority to systematically abuse vulnerable children and young women. It also underscores the importance of victims coming forward and the crucial role of law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting these types of crimes.