Scott Christner, a former youth pastor, admitted to molesting a number of boys over 5 years, receiving 20 years for his crimes Wednesday.

Christner obtained three 9-year sentences for felonies from an Elkhart County decide, and can serve 20 years in jail with seven years suspended. He additionally was given two 7-year sentences for 2 different felonies that will probably be served together with the suspended sentence ought to he violate his parole after jail, in keeping with WNDU-TV.

In November, Christner pleaded responsible to a number of little one molestation fees.

He was a youth group chief for First Baptist Church in Goshen, Indiana. Between 2012 and 2019, Christner molested 5 boys on a number of events, WTRC-FM reported. The final recognized occasion occurred in July 2019, simply months earlier than Christner was arrested, in keeping with WNDU-TV.

On Nov. 21, 2019, he was first arrested whereas Goshen policed have been investigating sexual abuse allegations made by a boy who had been underneath 14 years previous on the time, in keeping with The Goshen Information.

After information of his arrest got here out, 4 extra victims informed investigators they have been additionally sexually abused by Christner in late November and early December that very same 12 months, The Goshen Information reported. Paperwork present that they had been round 10 to 12 years previous on the time the allegations referenced.

The 4 who got here ahead later say the abuse occurred after they have been alone Christner or whereas he roughhoused them, in keeping with WTRC-FM.

Then, for a second time, Christner was once more arrested, The Goshen Information reported.

Through the trial, victims and their households wrote private statements relating to the case, in keeping with WNDU-TV. One sufferer wrote on Christner's "Double life, pretending to be a form, giving man, whereas additionally molesting children."

Christner mentioned he'll "by no means put himself ready to make these errors once more," WNDU-TV reported.

An legal professional for Christner argued for the decide to condemn him to probation solely.

A father of one of many victims claimed that Christner "is not remorseful for his actions, however that he bought caught," saying he "solely stopped as a result of he bought caught, " WNDU-TV reported.

"There must be time in jail for there to be restitution," one other sufferer's father mentioned, in keeping with WNDU-TV.

Scott Christner, Sentenced, Sexual Abuse
Scott Christner had been a youth group chief for First Baptist Church in Goshen, Indiana. On this photograph, Sunday companies on the First Baptist Church have been held whereas parishioners stayed of their automobiles and listened on a loudspeaker on Might 10, 2020, in Solvang, California. George Rose/Getty Photographs

One among Christener's victims and a number of the different youths' dad and mom attended Wednesday's listening to and have become visibly pissed off when Christner apologized for his actions, WSBT-TV reported.

Some dad and mom wrote letters to the courtroom, whereas others took the stand, telling the courtroom concerning the psychological and bodily trauma Christner's actions had prompted their kids.

The Related Press contributed to this report.