Minister Fleeing with Teen Girl Caught in Joliet

A minister who reportedly fled Minnesota with a 16-year-old girl with whom he was having an affair was arrested in Joliet Thursday.

Gustaro Resendiz Talabera, 39, of West St. Paul, was taken into custody on an arrest warrant that was issued after the Dakota County (Minn.) Attorney's Office filed charges of criminal sexual conduct and deprivation of parental rights.

Following Talabera's arrest, the girl -- a parishioner who may be pregnant -- was taken into protective custody and is to be returned to Minnesota; Talabera is to be extradited, according to a story in Inver Grove Heights Patch in Minnesota.

West St. Paul police said they were contacted by the girl's mother and stepfather Wednesday night when they realized she was missing and some of her clothes and belongings were gone, the story said. The teen had told her mother she was staying home from school Wednesday because she was sick, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said, in a story written by The Associated Press.

The Dakota County criminal complaint said the girl sent a text message to parents asking them not to contact the police and telling them she wanted to start a new life with Talabera, who was their church minister, the Patch story said. 

Talabera's wife told police she thought her husband and the girl would go to Mexico, which is Talabera's home country. She also told police that her husband withdrew about $3,000 from their bank.

The complaint also said one of Talabera's sons told police his father believed the girl was pregnant and that's why they were attempting to flee to Mexico.

A Minnesota pastor was arrested in Joliet today and is charged for an alleged affair he had with a 16-year-old girl who was a parishioner.

The Dakota County Attorney's office has charged 39-year-old Gustaro Resendiz Talabera of West St. Paul with third-degree criminal sexual conduct and deprivation of parental rights.

County Attorney James Backstrom says Talabera was found Thursday in Joliet, Ill. Talabera was arrested and the girl was taken into protective custody.

Backstrom says the girl did not attend school Wednesday. She told her mother she would be home sick, but she was missing.

A woman who identified herself as Talabera's wife told the parents she believed her husband and their daughter had run away together.

Prosecutors plan to begin extradition proceedings against Talabera. A home phone number for Talabera could not be found.

A nationwide arrest warrant was issued Sept. 27 for a 39-year-old West St. Paul pastor who police say ran off with a 16-year-old parishioner after possibly getting the girl pregnant. 

Gustaro Resendiz Talabera is charged with two gross misdemeanor counts of deprivation of parental/custodial rights and one felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The Dakota County Attorney's Office said Talabera and the girl were found in Illinois this afternoon. The girl was placed in protective custody and will be returned to Minnesota as soon as possible; Talabera will face extradition.

Talabera allegedly contacted his 15-year-old son on the evening of Sept. 26 and told him that he was having an affair with the girl, that she might be pregnant and that the couple was planning to flee to Mexico. 

The girl's mother and step-father contacted West St. Paul officers Wednesday evening after finding her gone and noticing some of her clothes and belongings were also missing.

According to a Dakota County criminal complaint, the girl sent a text message to her mother and step-father asking them to keep the police out of the matter. The girl allegedly told them she wanted to start a new life with Talabera. 

Talabera's wife told police that she thought her husband and the girl would go to Mexico because that is where he is from. The wife also told police Talabera withdrew approximately $3,000 in cash from their bank but left their green GMC Yukon SUV.

If convicted of felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct, Talabera could face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.

Related Topics: Gustaro Resendiz Talabera, Third degree criminal sexual conduct, and deprivation of parental/custodial rights