A Douglas County jury on Monday morning convicted a former Lawrence church youth leader of having a sexual relationship nine years ago with an underage girl who was in the youth group.

The jury found Christopher L. Cormack, 38, who now lives in Billings, Mont., guilty of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, for having sex with the girl who would have been 15 years old in 1999.

Amy McGowan, a chief assistant Douglas County district attorney, alleged Cormack had a sexual relationship for three years with the victim, including having sex with her before she turned 16.

The victim, now 24, came forward with the allegations in late 2007 after she heard Cormack was taking a ministry job as a chaplain at Kansas State University after he attended seminary in California. The allegations also ruined his career in the ministry before criminal charges were filed, according to trial testimony.

Jurors began deliberating Friday afternoon. They returned at 9 a.m. Monday and announced their verdict 13 minutes later.

Cormack had testified in his defense last week and expressed remorse for the relationship, but he said he did not commit a crime because they did not have sex until after she turned 16.

He faces anywhere from 55 months to more than 20 years in prison, depending on his criminal history. Chief District Judge Robert Fairchild has scheduled a sentencing for Nov. 25.