A former pastor at a Parker church was sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to sex crimes against girls who were members of his youth group.

Joshua Mark Clemons, 35, will serve four years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, followed by 10 years of sex offender intensive supervised probation, for his crimes in the Parker case, according to a news release by the 18th Judicial District. He faces an additional three years for a similar case in Denver.

Clemons, who was sentenced Sept. 21, pleaded guilty in July in the Parker case to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of attempted sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust. Other charges were dismissed per the plea agreement.

“Time and time again we see predators putting themselves into positions to have access to the vulnerable populations they prey upon,” District Attorney George Brauchler said in the news release. “Here, we have a man professing to help kids during a tough time in their lives, when instead he is manipulating them so he could abuse and molest them.

“This is why it's important for people to speak up if something doesn't feel right, and to report your suspicions to law enforcement.”

Clemons lived in Denver when he was employed at Crossroads Community Church, from 2008 to September 2015. During his time there he worked with the youth ministry, led yearly mission trips, coordinated and led service opportunities for students and adults and developed mentoring programs for students.

According to the arrest affidavit, one victim said she had an intimate relationship with Clemons that began when she was 17 and said they regularly had sexual relations. The victim stated Clemons expressed the importance of keeping their relationship secret.

Clemons most recently worked at the International Academy of Denver at Harrington between August 2016 and December 2017. Denver Police said they do not believe any of the incidents occurred at the school.

The mother of one girl told police Clemons is “a master manipulator not only of students, but adults as well.”

Clemons will be sentenced in the Denver case in October.