Former Church Music Director Sentenced in Child Molestation

A former music director of an Assemblies of God church in Downey was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years and four months in state prison for molesting two teenage boys he met in his church choir.

Timothy John Scarr, 39, pleaded no contest this week to sexually abusing the boys at the Landmark Community Church, where his father is pastor.

“The victims are comfortable with the disposition,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Lori Carnahan, who prosecuted the case. “I’m pleased that other young boys in the community are going to be protected from the defendant.”

Watching the sentencing were family members and friends of the two boys, who were 13 and 14 when the abuse began. Scarr allegedly molested the 13-year-old for five years.

“No one suspected,” said Jessica Aguirre, 20, who was a member of Scarr’s choir and friend of the victims. “He was a man of God. You wouldn’t expect these things from a man of God.”

Also present in the courtroom were relatives of two boys whom Scarr was convicted of molesting in 1985. Cindy Morrow, the earlier victims’ aunt, said she and her family would follow Scarr when he is released to warn his future neighbors.

“We’re not going to hurt him, but we’re going to let everyone know about him,” she said.

Los Angeles County Court Commissioner Norman P. Tarle recommended that Scarr serve his sentence at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, which offers treatment programs for sex offenders, Carnahan said.