A man accused of groping teenage girls when he chaperoned a church camping trip appeared in court Friday, after he was arrested for missing court earlier this year.

Elijah Curtis Murphy, 28, of St. Paul is charged with one count of second-degree criminal sexual contact with girls under 16 while in a position of authority. The charge has a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $35,000 fine.

Police say Murphy approached two girls, ages 13 and 14, from behind and grabbed their breasts during the week of June 12, 2006. He was later hiking behind a third girl, 15, pretended to slip on the trail and cupped a hand over her breasts, according to the criminal complaint.

Police asked Murphy why he thought he was being questioned, and Murphy immediately said it was because of the camping trip, according to the criminal complaint. He admitted the feigned trail slip, saying he didn’t “intentionally do anything wrong.”

The current charge stems from just one of the victims, so Murphy may face additional charges related to the incidents, County Attorney Chuck MacLean said Friday.

Murphy appeared in court after he was arrested on a warrant for not attending a May 5 hearing. Murphy told Judge Mary Leahy on Friday that the summons for his May court date never reached him, since he moved twice.

Leahy set Murphy’s conditional bond at $5,000 and scheduled his next court appearance for Dec. 3.