VENTURA, Calif. — A Ventura man will spend more than a decade behind bars after being convicted of continuously molesting a young child over a five-year period in Southern California, public safety officials announced Monday.
The formal prison sentence was announced by the Ventura County District Attorney's Office following court proceedings in Ventura County Superior Court.
The defendant, identified as 51-year-old Timothy Wade Hensley (born July 3, 1975) of Ventura, was sentenced to serve 12 years in California state prison. The judicial sentencing follows a criminal trial where a Ventura County jury found Hensley guilty on a felony count of continuous sexual abuse on July 31, 2026.
Five-Year Span of Abuse Across County Lines
According to trial testimony and official court summaries released by the District Attorney's Office, the sexual abuse occurred systematically between 2016 and 2021.
During those five years, Hensley repeatedly assaulted the young female victim on multiple occasions. Investigators established that the victim was approximately nine to ten years old when the sexual abuse first began at a residential property in Los Angeles County. The illegal conduct continued over the subsequent years while the defendant and victim shared a residence in Thousand Oaks.
Hensley maintained access to the child through a close familial relationship, utilizing his position of household authority to perpetrate the ongoing abuse undetected.
The survivor endured the trauma for years before finding the courage to report the abuse to a trusted friend in 2023. That disclosure initiated an immediate multi-jurisdictional law enforcement investigation, leading to criminal filings by Ventura County prosecutors under case number 2023032083.
Jury Verdict and Aggravating Sentencing Factors
Following a full jury trial, Hensley was convicted under the California Penal Code:
- PC 288.5(a): Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child (Felony)
In addition to the primary jury conviction, the court found three special aggravating sentencing factors and jurisdictional allegations to be true:
- PC 784.7(a): Ventura County maintains proper legal jurisdiction over the multi-county offenses.
- CRC 4.421(a)(11): The defendant took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the crime.
- CRC 4.421(a)(3): The victim was particularly vulnerable due to her young age and household circumstances.
Deputy District Attorney Julia McAndrew, a member of the District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Unit who led the prosecution, commended the survivor and her loved ones for their resilience.
"The victim and her family showed tremendous courage in coming forward and participating in this process," stated Deputy District Attorney Julia McAndrew following the court proceedings. "Crimes against children are unacceptable, and we will continue to work to hold those who commit these offenses accountable. We hope that today’s outcome brings the victim a measure of justice and allows her to move forward with the support and safety that she deserves."
Victim Advocacy and Community Support Resources
Prosecutorial units and child defense advocates stress that cases involving long-term familial abuse require extensive trauma-informed resources and professional support services for young survivors and non-offending family members.
Local organizations across Ventura County provide confidential counseling, crisis intervention, medical advocacy, and court support for victims of sexual assault:
- Ventura County Family Justice Center: (805) 652-7655 | vcfjc.org
- Coalition Family Harmony Crisis Line: (800) 155-2000
- Interface Children & Family Services: (800) 636-6195 | icfs.org
- National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): Call 1-800-656-4673 or chat online at rainn.org
For additional inquiries regarding this prosecution, media representatives can contact Communications Manager Joey Buttitta at (805) 767-3400 or via email at Joey.Buttitta@venturacounty.gov.
To view more information on criminal cases, official releases are available on the Ventura County District Attorney's Office newsroom.