LAKEPORT — The District Attorney”s Office may file new charges that could affect the sentencing of a 24-year-old Kelseyville man who pleaded guilty to forcing oral sex on a 14-year-old girl in the church youth group he led, lawyers said Friday.
Judge Richard Martin continued the sentencing against Christopher Puryear to allow deputy district attorney Ed Borg to decide whether to file a new case or charges.
“If we did file something new, chances are it would affect the sentencing in this case,” Borg said.
Puryear pleaded guilty Jan. 29 to sexual battery and faces up to five years in state prison for the charge along with his admission of a prior felony conviction.
Borg dropped the other charges against Puryear, including forced oral copulation, intimidating a witness and an unrelated misdemeanor charge of domestic violence.
On Nov. 25, Puryear asked the teenager to talk with him outside a Gateway Ministries church function where he made sexual advances and only stopped when interrupted by someone exiting the church.
Deputies found Puryear Dec. 19 at the church where the offense took place and arrested him. Puryear originally pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec. 28.
Puryear had served time in the past for carrying a concealed weapon and domestic violence, which could add to his sentence in the sexual battery case.
Borg said all of the charges against Puryear could have brought a maximum of 10 years in prison but the victim wanted a quick resolution, Borg said. The girl did not have to take the witness stand in court.
Puryear is scheduled to return to court 9 a.m. April 2. He remains in custody at the Lake County Jail.
Gateway Ministries on Big Valley Road in Finley was formerly known as Big Valley Community Church.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
