A jury in Taos, New Mexico on Monday convicted the leader of an apocalyptic religious sect of criminal sexual contact with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of two minors in 2006.

The jury, however, did not convict Wayne Bent, 67, from the more serious charge of sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl.

The conviction of the leader and self-proclaimed Messiah of The Lord Our Righteousness Church (LORC) stemmed from the "spiritual healing" he conducted on two naked sisters aged 14 and 16 two years ago. The jury was not convinced by Bent's testimony that he touched the sternums but not the breasts of the girls in separate incidents.

The two girls have testified that the incidents were religious healing and not sex.

The court allowed Bent to return to Strong City, where the LORC compound near Clayton is located, before his sentencing on Dec. 29. He faces a sentence of 18 years in prison.