On May 3rd, 2022, the Sleepy Eye Police Department received a report from Olmsted County Human Services. A mandated reporter provided information regarding former Trinity Lutheran Pastor Nathan Luong having an inappropriate sexual relationship with a juvenile female member of Trinity Lutheran Church (Sleepy Eye, MN). The Sleepy Eye Police Department conducted a 7 month investigation with cooperation from Trinity Lutheran Church and the Southeastern/Southwestern Minnesota Synod ELCA. Throughout this investigation the Sleepy Eye Police Department submitted evidence to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension DNA Lab for testing. Based on DNA evidence and interviews conducted by the Sleepy Eye Police Department, Nathan Van Alfred Luong (DOB: 3/24/1986) has been charged with 3rd Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct and is currently being held in Brown County Jail.
The Sleepy Eye Police Department believes there has only been one victim in this case. If anyone else has been victimized by Nathan Luong, they are encouraged to contact Investigator Shawn Bohnen at Sleepy Eye Police Department or their local police department.
Luong served as pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church from September 2018 to February of 2021.