U.S.

South Dakota man accused of threatening 2 Catholic churches within 9 months

The priest who received the latest alleged threats knew the accused man through the parish, where the man had previously led the Rosary at Mass.

Elizabeth Ervin
Elizabeth Ervin
· 2 min read
South Dakota man accused of threatening 2 Catholic churches within 9 months
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. (Photo by NayaDadara/Shutterstock)

A South Dakota man was charged after allegedly threatening a shooting at a Catholic church in September, his second case involving an alleged threat against a Catholic church since January.

Russell Luke Bauer, 41, faces a Class 5 felony charge of making a terroristic threat, according to a Sept. 17 report from KELOLAND, a CBS affiliate. The latest allegations involve Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Gettysburg, South Dakota, where Bauer allegedly made multiple threatening calls to Father Brian Simon, the church’s associate pastor, on Sept. 9 and 10.

According to the complaint cited by KELOLAND, Bauer allegedly told the priest that “he would bring his AR-15 to the church and shoot it up.” The calls were reportedly made from an inpatient phone at Avera Behavioral Health.

Father Simon told KELOLAND that he contacted the parish’s lead priest and the county sheriff after receiving the alleged threats.

“The congregation was threatened not just me,” Father Simon said.

The priest also knew Bauer from previous interactions at Sacred Heart and told KELOLAND he had spoken with him frequently. Bauer had previously led the Rosary at Mass, Father Simon said.

“I’ve talked to him a lot,” Father Simon added, describing Bauer as sincere and respectful. In his previous encounters with Bauer, he said, there “was nothing alarming like this.”

The September charge follows a separate case involving an alleged Jan. 3 threat against the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls. According to court documents cited by KELOLAND, that charge involves an alleged threat to use a chemical, biological, radioactive, explosive, or other destructive device.

After the Gettysburg charge was filed, the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney’s Office revoked Bauer’s bail in the earlier case, according to KELOLAND. Bauer was being held without bond as of Sept. 16, with a hearing in the January case scheduled for Sept. 29.

>> Missouri man charged after bomb threat against St. Louis Archdiocese headquarters <<

Comments