FINLEY — Officers arrested a 23-year-old Gateway Ministries youth group leader Saturday in Finley on suspicion of forcing oral sex on a 14-year-old girl in the youth group.
Christopher Puryear of Kelseyville was booked into the Lake County Jail on $250,000 bail and remained in custody as of Monday evening, Capt. Jim Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff”s Office reported.
A church elder and another youth group leader with Gateway Ministries reported to the Sheriff”s Office Friday that Puryear “had been spending an inordinate amount of time talking with and texting teenage girls involved in the youth group,” Bauman said. Gateway Ministries on Big Valley Road in Finley was formerly known as Big Valley Community Church.
Officers learned that Puryear allegedly asked a 14-year-old youth group girl to talk with him Nov. 25 outside a church function where he made physical and sexual advances, Bauman said. Puryear allegedly stopped when someone exiting the church interrupted him.
Deputies interviewed the victim who identified Puryear as the suspect, Bauman said.
Sheriff deputies later found Puryear Saturday at the church where the alleged offenses took place, Bauman said. Puryear was booked into jail on suspicion of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child, forced oral copulation with a child, criminal threats and annoying a child younger than 18.
The Sheriff”s Office is still investigating the case, including other potential victims involved with the Gateway Ministries youth group, Bauman said.
