VENTURA : Man, 87, Dies Before Sentencing for Abuse

An 87-year-old Ventura man who was scheduled to be sentenced this week for molesting a child died of a heart attack Oct. 23, his attorney said Monday.

Albert L. Timms pleaded guilty to two molestation charges Sept. 20, more than a year after being accused of molesting three girls under age 10 between 1987 and 1989. His case was repeatedly delayed because of his poor health.

Attorney James M. Farley, who had argued that Timms was in no physical condition to stand trial, said court officials refused to believe Timms’ reports on his health.

“It’s my opinion that the charges and all of the court appearances hastened his death because of the stress it put on him,” Farley said.

During court proceedings, Timms appeared in a wheelchair and, on occasion, was hooked to an oxygen tank. In February, Ventura County Superior Court Judge James M. McNally postponed Timms’ trial after a doctor testified that the defendant needed a pacemaker.

Timms, however, refused to have the device implanted. He finally pleaded guilty in September to two counts of lewd acts on a child. Farley said Timms maintained his innocence but pleaded guilty to avoid a trial.

“It’s like we should have on his tombstone for everybody to see, ‘I told you I was sick,’ ” Farley said. “Nobody believed him.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Carol J. Nelson, who produced a variety of witnesses to testify that Timms was fit to stand trial, said his death and his prosecution are separate issues.

“They’re not related events, they’re really not,” Nelson said.

Nelson said it was important to get the case solved so the victims could heal.

“The point is, are you going to prosecute an older person? Or are you not going prosecute an older person, just because he is an older person?” Nelson said. “Hopefully, the court system treated him well.”