ST. LOUIS (AP) — A former pastor and owner of a St. Louis pizza parlor and martial arts studio has been found guilty of eight federal charges related to child sex abuse.
U.S. District Court Judge Audrey Fleissig on Wednesday found Dojo Pizza’s Loren “Sensei” Copp guilty of charges including three counts of production and attempted production of child pornography.
Copp faces between 15 years and life in prison. His sentencing is April 5.
Prosecutors say 49-year-old Copp groomed and sexually abused two minor girls and tried to get others to send him explicit photos.
A spokeswoman for St. Charles, where Copp is being jailed, says he declined an Associated Press request for comment.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports he only answered “yes” when asked Wednesday by the judge whether he understood the verdict.