Priest Pleads Guilty To Criminal Sexual Relations With Woman

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN — A Catholic priest has plead guilty to criminal sexual contact while celebrating a private Mass in the basement of a Mendota Heights home. Jacob Andrew Bertrand, 35, is currently on leave from the Diocese of San Diego in connection with alleged sexual penetration of a woman occurring in June or July of 2010.

As part of the plea agreement, a second count of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree will be dismissed.

Authorities said the victim "straddled Bertrand while he performed the Sacrifice of the Mass" with his stole on and candles burning. She reported the conduct to Catholic Church officials in 2012 and 2014. Bertrand was charged in October of 2016.

It's a felony under Minnesota law for any clergy member to have sexual relations with someone who is not their spouse during the course of a meeting in which religious or spiritual advice, aid, or comfort is given.

According to police, the Bertrand and the woman met in Rome in 2009 while they were both studying at the same university. The woman reported they were "drawn" to each other.

In the fall of 2009, Bertrand told the victim he was compelled to tell her about his sexual past. Bertrand gave her two of his journals. In exchange, the woman gave Bertrand her journals in which she wrote about her hopes of finding a husband while in Rome.

After reading the woman's journals, Bertrand told her he was the person she was sent to Rome to meet, and the victim reported that she believed this, according to police. While at a church in Rome, Bertrand held the victim's hand and "mystically proposed" to her, the criminal complaint states.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and Judge Asphaug set the sentencing date for May 7.

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