MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A priest who was convicted of fondling a 12-year-old girl while he was working in the Diocese of Winona has been deported to his native India.
Officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement say 48-year-old Leo Charles Koppala was turned over to authorities in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Koppola was charged last June with second-degree criminal sexual conduct. He pleaded guilty in March, admitting he fondled the girl while eating dinner at her grandmother’s house.
Cases involving individuals who are deported after abuse convictions often raise questions about accountability and whether additional victims may exist in other locations. These cases can involve multiple jurisdictions and may require cooperation between law enforcement agencies in different regions or countries.