Isanti County pastor charged with criminal sexual conduct

Ryan Jay Muehlhauser, 55, is charged with felony, fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving young men seeking spiritual advise at the Lakeside Christian Church in Isanti Township, ECM Publishers reports. Muehlhauser has worked at the church for more than 22 years.

WCCO reports Muehlhauser was arrested on Sunday in rural Cambridge and booked into the Isanti County Jail. Unconditional bail was set at $50,000 and conditional bail at $20,000.

The alleged victims told investigators Muehlhauser would be physical with them during counseling sessions and that behavior eventually led to sexual touching, kissing and masturbation, KARE 11 reports. One of the victims said Muehlhauser had been sexually assaulting him for the past four or five months.