MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Court of Appeals says the leader of an isolated religious sect who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two teenagers must be given a lesser sentence.Victor Barnard, leader of River Road Fellowship near Finlayson, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after two women said he began assaulting them when they were 12 and 13.

Barnard’s was more than the presumptive sentence of 12 years for each victim. But the judge didn’t give a reason for going higher at the time, as rules require.

The appeals court reversed the sentence Monday and ordered he be resentenced to the presumptive penalty.  He could face 24 years total.