Stearns County prosecutors plan to seek an aggravated sentence and an additional offense in a case involving a Catholic priest charged with stalking, criminal sexual conduct and violence against a woman.

Joseph Paul Herzing, 61, of Milaca, is charged with one count of stalking, one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of threats of violence, according to court records.

However Assistant Stearns County Attorney Jamie Reinschmidt filed a Dec. 3 motion to offer an additional third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge at trial, saying that Herzing “engaged in numerous instances of sexual penetration and sexual contact from 2014-18 in Hennepin and Stearns counties while being a member of the clergy.” An intent to seek an aggravated sentence was filed on Nov. 26.

Herzing appeared in court virtually on Monday for a bond hearing. Conditions include not leaving the state nor engaging in pastoral duties. A future court date has not been set.

Herzing is accused of abuse that occurred while providing spiritual advice, aid and comfort while serving as a priest in Little Falls and St. Cloud between May 2018 and October 2022. According to the criminal complaint, there were multiple violent interactions in 2022, including where Herzing choked, physically assaulted and threatened to kill the victim.

The criminal complaint also said that Herzing took the woman to an event in Milaca on his motorcycle in August 2022 and threatened to kill them both by crashing into a tree. The woman told investigators Herzing had made similar threats in the past.

He was ordained at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud in 1999, and later was appointed as pastor of Christ the King in Browerville; St. Joseph in Clarissa; St. Joseph in Grey Eagle; St. Mary of Mount Carmel in Long Prairie, and St. John the Baptist in Swanville in June 2024, according to the Diocese of St. Cloud. Herzing was put on leave following the filing of charges in Stearns County District Court, St. Cloud Bishop Patrick Neary said in a Nov. 27 statement.

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The first thing that Oregon quarterback Dante Moore did after winning the Orange Bowl was salute the thousands of fans who made the cross-country trip to South Florida.

If the Ducks’ defense keeps playing like this, those fans might be back in Miami before long.

Matayo Uiagalelei caused a fumble to set up an Oregon touchdown, freshman Brandon Finney Jr. had three takeaways — two interceptions and a fumble recovery — and the fifth-seeded Ducks silenced No. 4 Texas Tech’s offense for a 23-0 win in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Orange Bowl on Thursday.

“They’ve earned this opportunity,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “I told them go get their pound of flesh today. They did that today.”

Jordon Davison rushed for two scores, Moore threw for 234 yards and Atticus Sappington kicked three field goals for Oregon (13-1), which will play No. 1 Indiana (14-0) in the Peach Bowl — a CFP semifinal — on Jan. 9. It’s a rematch of a game from Oct. 11, when the Hoosiers beat Oregon 30-20.

The Oregon-Indiana winner will be in Miami Gardens for the national title game on Jan. 19.

“I believe we have the best defense in the country,” Finney said.

Texas Tech probably wouldn’t argue with that.

Texas Tech — which finished at 12-2 — came into the day second nationally in points per game (42.5) and fifth nationally in yards per game (480.3) but got absolutely nothing going. The Red Raiders turned the ball over four times, were stopped on fourth downs three other times and had four three-and-outs.

“Texas Tech fans, I’m sorry that we let you down,” coach Joey McGuire said. “I hope you’ve enjoyed every second of this year. Man, this was such a special team and I’m so proud of them. Hats off to Dan Lanning. Hats off to the Oregon Ducks. Just an incredible football team … and I told Dan after the game I hope he wins the whole damn thing.”

Tech quarterback Behren Morton — who finished 18 of 32 passing for just 137 yards — was stripped by Uiagalelei early in the third quarter in Red Raider territory. Uiagalelei rumbled deep into the red zone and Davison scored one play later to make it 13-0.

Morton threw a red-zone interception early in the fourth quarter and a fourth-down stop from their own 30 midway through the fourth quarter doomed whatever comeback chances existed for the Red Raiders. Davison plunged in from the 1 with 16 seconds left to cap the scoring.

“We had a great game plan,” Morton said. “We just didn’t execute base plays.”

And once again, a CFP bye meant a team went bye-bye.

It was the sixth quarterfinal under this 12-team tournament format that started last year and the sixth time that the team coming off an extended break lost to a team that played a first-round game. That odd streak ended later Thursday, when Indiana — which had a first-round bye — rolled past Alabama 38-3 in another quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.

In 2024, Boise State (against Penn State), Arizona State (against Texas), Georgia (against Notre Dame) and Oregon (against Ohio State) all went out in the quarterfinals after first-round byes. Miami added to that list Wednesday night, beating Ohio State in a quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl. In those six games, including Thursday, the team with the bye has held the lead for less than five minutes — combined — of regulation.

Texas Tech thought it could avoid that fate. It could not, and Oregon finished off its first shutout of an AP-ranked opponent since 2012. Oregon was playing a top-10 team for the 113th time — and for the first time, allowed zero points.

“In this program you don’t make excuses,” McGuire said, “and you don’t let anybody make them for you.”

Oregon played James Madison in Round 1 this year, winning 51-34, and generally was unhappy afterward with how it played defensively.

There wasn’t anything to not like from that side of the ball on Thursday.

“Last week a lot of people talked about our defense,” Lanning said. “They showed up today.”

Takeaways

Oregon: The Ducks are flying home to Eugene, instead of staying in the Eastern time zone to prepare for the Peach Bowl in Atlanta next week. It was a decision the Ducks made not long after seeing how the CFP bracket could shake out.

Texas Tech: It simply was an uncharacteristic offensive showing from the Red Raiders, who had scored at least 10 points before halftime in 26 of their last 27 games going back to 2023. “That was the best defense we have faced this year,” McGuire said.

Up next

Oregon: The Ducks, who have tied the school record for wins in a season, get a rematch with Indiana.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders are scheduled to open the 2026 season at home against Abilene Christian on Sept. 5.

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GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Clayton Tune will start at quarterback for Green Bay in its regular-season finale Sunday at Minnesota with the Packers intending to rest Jordan Love as he prepares for the playoffs.

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Thursday that Love has cleared concussion protocol, but isn’t expected to play against the Vikings (8-8). Green Bay (9-6-1) already is locked into the NFC’s No. 7 playoff seed, so Sunday’s game has no postseason implications.

Love hasn’t played since taking a helmet-to-helmet hit in the second quarter of a 22-16 overtime loss at Chicago on Dec. 20.

Love said he’s doing enough in practice that he shouldn’t feel rusty when he starts the Packers’ playoff opener.

“I think the only thing as a quarterback that you’re not simulating is getting hit,” Love said. “So, yeah, you go through training camp and it’s the same situation getting yourself ready for Week 1 where you’re not playing any games. It’s the same deal, but you can simulate it.”

Malik Willis played the rest of the Bears game and started the Packers’ 41-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, but he’s dealing with injuries to his shoulder and hamstring. Love practiced fully and Willis was limited in Wednesday’s practice.

The Packers also signed Desmond Ridder to their practice squad on Wednesday, giving them one more option. LaFleur said there’s a possibility Ridder could be active for Sunday’s game.

“Clayton Tune’s going to start, and then as far as the backup, we’re kind of working through that process right now,” LaFleur said. “Malik’s dealing with a hamstring. Obviously just got Desmond Ridder in here. We’re kind of taking it a day at a time.”

Tune signed with Green Bay’s practice squad before the season. The Packers signed Tune from their practice squad to their active roster Wednesday.

“Any time you get an opportunity to play in an NFL game, it’s a huge blessing,” Tune said. “So (I’m) just excited for the opportunity to go out and play and trust the training that I’ve put in for the last however many weeks it’s been.”

Tune, 26, entered the Ravens game in the fourth quarter and went 1 of 4 for 8 yards with an interception. He appeared in 13 games and made one start with the Arizona Cardinals, who selected him out of Houston in the fifth round of the 2023 draft.

He has gone 15 of 27 for 78 yards with three interceptions and no touchdowns. In his lone previous start, he was sacked seven times as the Cardinals gained just 58 total yards in 27-0 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 5, 2023.

“I would say I’m obviously more experienced, been around the game more,” Tune said in regard to how much he’s grown since that start. ”Obviously seeing more looks, seeing more defenses, so I would say I’m obviously a better player just from being in the NFL for two years longer, but just I’ve seen it before and I kind of know what to expect now that I’ve got a start under my belt.”

LaFleur also said newly acquired cornerback Trevon Diggs “potentially” could play against the Vikings. The Packers claimed Diggs off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys on Wednesday.

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Julius Miettinen doesn’t have to be reminded of what happened a year ago. Or the year before that.

Or the year before that.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound power forward from Finland scored a key goal in the third period on Dec. 29, 2024, when the Finns knocked off the United States, 4-3, in overtime in Group A play at the World Junior Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

He was there a week later, too, when his Finnish team built a 3-1 lead against the U.S. in the gold medal game, only to see the Americans tie the score in the second period, then win the game and the gold medal on Teddy Stiga’s goal in overtime.

“After last year, the guys have wanted revenge, and this is the perfect timing for it,” Miettinen said with a smile after Finland lost to Canada 7-4 in the final game of Group B play on Wednesday night at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

The loss to Canada set up a rematch that neither Finland nor the U.S. expected to happen in the 2026 World Junior Championship quarterfinals. But Finland finished third in Group B, behind Canada and Czechia. The U.S. finished second in Group A after a 6-3 loss to Sweden on Wednesday.

That means the rivals will meet in the quarterfinals at 5 p.m. Friday at Grand Casino Arena.

“They’ll have the home crowd; everyone’s against us,” Miettinen said. “So, we have to go show everyone why we’re the best team here.”

Friday will mark the fourth consecutive year that the U.S. and Finland have met in a big spot in the World Juniors.

Last year, it was the gold medal game. In 2024, the Americans beat Finland 3-2 in the semifinals. The U.S. went on to beat Sweden 6-2 in the gold medal game, while Finland finished out of the medals.

In 2023, the U.S. blew out Finland 6-2 in Group play to win Group B, while the Finns finished second in the group. The Americans won bronze and Finland finished without a medal.

So, while this year’s quarterfinal matchup isn’t the most palatable for Finland — or the U.S. — the Finns don’t have to look far for motivation. Miettinen, no relation to former Wild forward Antti Miettinen, said the Finns know they’ll have a vocal U.S. crowd pulling for the Americans to hand them another blow in a big game at Grand Casino Arena.

“I can say, that gives you a lot of energy,” Miettinen said, “and we can use that energy to our advantage.”

Briefly

Sweden’s power play has been staggeringly good, converting on 50% of its attempts (9 for 18). … Sweden’s Lucas Pettersson was a plus-2 on Wednesday and raised his on-ice rating to a plus-7 in four games. Pettersson is signed with the Anaheim Ducks and currently plays for Brynäs IF in the SHL.  … U.S. forward and North Dakota freshman Will Zellers has five goals in four WJC games. … Switzerland is tied for first with Sweden for the fewest goals allowed in four pool play games.

QUARTERFINALS

All games on Friday.

Sweden vs. Latvia, Grand Casino Arena, 1 p.m.
Czechia vs. Switzerland, 3M Arena at Mariucci, 3:30 p.m.
USA vs. Finland, Grand Casino Arena, 5 p.m.
Canada vs. Slovakia, 3M Arena at Mariucci, 7:30 p.m

Forum News Service reporters Madeline Warren, Brad Elliott Schlossman, and Jared Rubado also contributed to this report.

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