LAKEPORT — A Kelseyville man was sentenced to six years in prison Friday for sexual battery of two teenagers in the youth group he led.
Christopher Puryear, 24, might only serve three years in prison and six years on parole.
Puryear will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and might be required to wear an ankle bracelet for monitoring on GPS.
On Jan. 29, Puryear pleaded guilty to forcing oral sex on a 14-year-old girl Nov. 25.
He also admitted April 30 to sexually assaulting another girl on Dec. 18. He was the leader in both girls” Gateway Ministries youth group.
Along with the two sexual battery charges of two teenagers, Puryear admitted to a prior felony conviction. He served time in the past for carrying a concealed weapon and domestic violence.
In the first case, deputy district attorney Ed Borg dropped the remaining charges against Puryear, including forced oral copulation, intimidating a witness and an unrelated misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. Borg also dismissed the second count of misdemeanor annoying or molesting a child in the second case.
On Nov. 25, Puryear asked the first 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. Through the first case, law enforcement learned of the second victim who was assaulted Dec. 18 at her home. Puryear originally pleaded not guilty to the charges Dec. 28.
Judge Richard Martin said Puryear took advantage of the trust in his position as a youth group leader and physically and emotionally injured the two teenagers. Martin found there”s a likelihood Puryear will be a “danger to others if he”s not imprisoned,” he said.
“He has engaged in conduct indicating he”s a serious danger to society,” Martin said.
Puryear was remanded to the Sheriff”s Office for transfer to the prison system in San Quentin.
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.
