Minnesota Minister Resigns After Youth Minister Son-in-law Arrested for Sexual Assault

A Minnesota minister has resigned after his son-in-law, who formerly served as a youth pastor at the church, was accused of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a 17-year-old member of his youth group and arrested earlier this month.

Mark Perryman stepped down as minister of Northridge Church in Owatonna nearly two weeks after Sean Patrick Masopust, 32, was arrested Feb. 2 for allegedly having a relationship with a girl in his youth group, the Steele County Times reported.

His wife Tammy, the director of the church-affiliated Sunshine Tree preschool, also resigned, as did Felicia Masopust, Sean Masopust’s wife and the Perrymans’ daughter, who helped lead women’s and youth ministries at Northridge. 

Perryman had led the church since 1991. 

The alleged victim was a former employee of the preschool who also babysat for the Masopusts’ children. 

According to the criminal complaint, Masopust told police “Pastor Mark” had sent him to Kansas for some time off after he learned about the accusations. Perryman said he did not realize the extent of the alleged abuse, however. Sources told the Times the information was deliberately kept from Tammy Perryman.

The Times reported that Felicia Masopust also has been accused of sexual abuse in the past year for allegedly sending an explicit text to a male youth group member. 

No charges have been filed against her or the Perrymans.  

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Sean Masopust is accused of sending nude photos of himself, explicit videos, and inappropriate texts to the girl. He also allegedly kissed and touched her, including at his house, where she had come to babysit.

An investigation conducted by The Minnesota Assemblies of God said he admitted sending pictures and “flirtatious” texts to the girl and said he had intended to have sex with her. 

Sean Masopust is next due in court in April.