Hoefgen Acquitted of Sexual Abuse

A Dakota County jury has made the decision for acquittal in the case of former Hastings priest, Francis Hoefgen, accused by a man who had served as an altar boy during the time of Hoefgen’s time at St. Boniface, now SEAS Church. The decision was based on limited proof provided by the proscecution that the plaintiff served as an altar boy and had unsupervised contact with Hoefgen. Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom noted that the passage of time, between 26 and 28 years, was a major factor limiting the ability to corroborate physical evidence with primary reliance based on one person’s word against another. The story will continue, as the man has now filed a civil lawsuit against the former priest which will also include naming the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minnespolis and St. John’s Abbey as co-defendents, contributing to the priest’s continued assignment with the parish in which he was placed. Hoefgen came to St. Boniface following a similar suit by a Cold Spring, Minnesota youth which resulted in Hoefgen completing treatment for criminal sexual conduct.