Former Forest Lake Teacher, James Carter, Sentenced to Serve 365 Days in Jail for the Sexual Abuse of Minors
(St. Paul, MN) – This morning, in Washington County District Court, Judge Richard Ilkka sentenced former Forest Lake educator and St. Peter’s Catholic Church volunteer, James Carter on two counts of criminal sexual conduct involving two minors for which he was convicted in June 2021. As part of the terms of Carter’s probation, Judge Ilkka ordered that Carter serve 365 days in jail and have no contact with minors or hold any position of authority over minors as an employee or volunteer. Carter was charged in the summer of 2020 with three counts of criminal sexual conduct after he groomed and sexually assaulted two minors.
“Despite Fr. Daniel Bodin’s efforts to influence the sentencing,” said attorney Jeff Anderson, “the survivors and their families can take some comfort that today the offender received some measure of accountability by reason of Judge Ilkka’s sentencing. This was possible only because of the courage of the survivors who spoke their truth and exposed this offender.”
In a press release published yesterday, Jeff Anderson called out Archbishop Hebda and Fr. Bodin for choosing to praise and request leniency in sentencing an offender convicted of harming children.
“The choice made by Fr. Bodin and Archbishop Hebda to stand with this offender and speak from the pulpit in support of him was horrifying,” said Anderson. “Fr. Bodin’s public apology was meaningless. It is time for Archbishop Hebda, Fr. Bodin, and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to act. It is time to minister to the children. It is time to encourage that any other children harmed by this offender come forward, speak the truth, and report to law enforcement.”
“We have deep concerns that these are not the only survivors,” continued Anderson. “Carter placed himself where he accessed children and over time groomed children for further access. It is time for Archbishop Hebda and Fr. Bodin to help heal rather than support the predator who posed the peril. It is time to support the brave survivors responsible for today’s measure of justice and for protecting other children who now will not be harmed by this predator.”