Ex-Pastor Gets 1-Year Jail Sentence

A former youth pastor in Westlake Village was sentenced Friday to one year in jail and five years’ probation for lewd conduct with children younger than 14.

Timothy Bayne Bernstein, 40, of Thousand Oaks, who was convicted June 8 in Santa Monica Superior Court, also received a suspended 10-year prison sentence, which he will have to serve if he violates his probation, a court clerk said.

Bernstein resigned his position June 6 as director of elementary programs at Calvary Community Church, said Denise Davis, a church spokeswoman.

Bernstein had been charged with 10 counts of committing lewd conduct with boys between 1987 and 1991.

He surrendered to sheriff’s deputies in Calabasas on March 30 after a warrant was issued for his arrest, Det. Ronald Williams said.

Bernstein has been identified by three victims, but there may be others, Williams said.

One victim recently told his therapist that he had engaged in lewd conduct with Bernstein more than a decade ago, Williams said. The therapist, who is required by law to report incidents of child abuse, contacted authorities, opening the investigation that led to Bernstein’s arrest, Williams said.