The trial of a former rural Gibbon minister accused of criminal sexual conduct involving a 16-year-old live-in foreign exchange student begins today in Gaylord.
52-year-old David Radtke, who is now living in Shawnee, Kansas, faces two counts of Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct, one for being in a position of authority over the victim and one for having a significant relationship.
He is the former minister at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, north of Gibbon.
According to the criminal complaint, Radtke was rubbing her legs on May 17th. She says she fell asleep and when she woke up he was touching her inappropriately.
At the time Radtke admitted the touching was a "lack of judgment."
Radtke is also facing felony charges of stalking and intercepting electronic communications.
Radtke is accused of accessing the victim’s email account and forwarding messages to his own accounts.
Back in June, the girl gave a deposition in open court where she answered questions and was cross-examined by the prosecution and defense before she returned to Spain at the end of the school year.
The deposition was taken in case she chose not to return for the trial.
But spokesperson for the county attorney says the victim has returned to Gaylord and will testify during the trial, which is anticipated to last three days.
Opening arguments are expected to take place no later than Tuesday afternoon.
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