A former local church youth group leader has been sentenced on charges filed after accusations that he had sex with a 13-year-old girl and shared obscene material with another teenage girl.

 Mark Cuprik, 23, appeared Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court where Judge R. Scott Krichbaum handed down a sentence of four years in prison.

He has also been declared a Tier 3 Sex Offender for life.

In December Cuprik earlier entered pleas to sexual battery, pandering sexually-oriented material, disseminating material harmful to juveniles, importuning and, sexual imposition.

Victims addressed the court during the sentencing hearing.

Prosecutors had recommended a four-year prison term.

Investigators say Cuprik drove to Beaver Township Memorial Park with a girl last March.

According to police, Cuprik was a friend of the girl’s family, as well as a youth group leader at Victory Christian Center.

Police say a family member began chasing Cuprik’s car. The chase involved high rates of speed and a disregard for traffic control devices, according to the report.

Cuprik eventually dropped the teen back off at the park and she was reunited with family members.

According to an indictment Cuprik engaged in sexual conduct with the teen from late February through late March. His indictment also indicates that a second juvenile victim was discovered during the investigation.

The indictment says that from 2017 to 2020 Cuprik shared obscene material with another girl, who was as young as fifteen.

Authorities said Cuprik also possessed material showing a minor engaging in sexual activity.