SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – A former pastor in the Sioux Falls area made his first court appearance Wednesday for sex charges, including one count of rape.

Patrick Michael Anderson, 52, is accused of having unwanted sexual contact with four different people, between April and August of 2024 all at the same location.

Bill reducing drug ingestion charge goes to House

In 2024, Anderson began training for a new career in massage.

During his classes, Anderson allegedly had unwanted sexual contact with the victims while giving them a massage. The prosecutor said Anderson massaged the women’s breasts, buttocks and touched their genitals.

This isn’t the first time Anderson’s been on the news.

In 2016 while working as a Baptist minister, Anderson who previously went by the name Patrick Boll, helped start a program for women to escape abusive relationships.

“I have a heart for women, for children, for people that have been pushed out of a bully position really that they just need someone to fight for them,” Patrick Boll told KELOLAND News in 2016. “If there’s something that we can do as fellow human beings to give a hand up and help out in any way that we can it’s worth it.”

During the hearing, Anderson’s attorney described him as an upstanding citizen who used to work as an officer for the Lennox Police Department and a correctional officer at the state penitentiary. Anderson’s attorney emphasized that he has no criminal record and asked the judge to lower his bond.

House nearly unanimous on funding for rape kits

The judge responded saying the charges are “concerning” and “disturbing,” and then lowered Anderson’s bond from $10,000 to $1,500.

Anderson entered a not-guilty plea and was later released from jail on bond.