A LaPorte County man is sentenced to 20 years for child molestation charges. It happened while he was at his grandfather's church in LaPorte.

In September 24-year-old Mark Comford pleaded guilty to sexually abusing four boys at Faith Baptist. His grandfather is a pastor at the church where Comford was serving as a youth leader.

Friday the judge accepted a plea agreement sentencing him to 20 years in prison and 8 years of probation.

As part of the agreement only 2 of the 9 charges were filed.

Prosecutors say a plea was necessary since the victims didn't want to testify in a jury trial.

“Child molestation cases are the most difficult kind of cases you can prosecute. Children having to go through the stress of a trial can be extremely difficult on them,” says Jennifer Evans with the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office.

“In my eyes… even though he was sentenced, I feel he walked away free because he was never charged for what he did to my child,” says Patricia Coffey, a victim’s mother.

In court it was also revealed that Comford was also sexually abused in his past.

One victim's family is filing a lawsuit against Comford, the church, and Comford's grandfather.