On Thursday, January 23, Tuolumne County Superior Court Judge James Boscoe sentenced 29 year old Ember Schlensker to 6 years in state prison for having unlawful sex with a minor. The crimes began while she was a youth leader at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Sonora from 2009 to 2012. The victim, who was 14 at the time the unlawful sex began, was involved in the youth group that Schlensker was responsible for. Utilizing a position of trust Schlensker maintained relations with the victim until Schlensker was terminated from St. Matthews and moved away. Following Schlensker leaving the area, the victim revealed the relationship to his mother who contacted authorities. Schlensker initially denied any physical relations with the victim then subsequently claimed she was raped, a defense rejected by the jury. In a trial that lasted 3 weeks prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Eric Hovatter, Schlensker was convicted of 27 felony counts of unlawful sex. Schlensker had faced up to 16 years in state prison and will be required to register as a sex offender. Schlensker was released by the court on bond pending appeal.
