Ojai Pastor, Massage Therapist Charged With Molesting Kids, Held Without Bail

An Ojai pastor who also worked as a massage therapist has been charged with molesting two children over several years, with prosecutors saying additional victims may still come forward. David Johnson, 58, pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held without bail at the Ventura County Jail as he awaits a bail hearing scheduled for Friday.

Ventura County prosecutors charged Johnson with two counts of continuous sexual abuse and four counts of lewd acts upon a child, according to CBS Los Angeles. The charges carry special allegations that the victims were under 14 years old and that there was substantial sexual conduct involved. Investigators say Johnson knew the children through a familial relationship, and that the alleged abuse took place at locations in both Ojai and Oxnard.

The case was first detailed by KEYT, which reported that Johnson was arraigned after the Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced the six felony counts. Prosecutors told the station they expect additional survivors to come forward, though no further victims have been publicly identified at this time. Johnson's next court date, a bail hearing, is set for Friday, August 28.

Detectives Lead Investigation Across Two Cities

Ventura County Sheriff's Detective Michael Loth is leading the investigation, which spans both Ojai and Oxnard, per the same KEYT report. Authorities have released Johnson's mugshot in hopes of identifying any additional victims who may not yet have come forward. Investigators are urging anyone with information or knowledge of additional victims to contact the Ventura County Sheriff's Office at (805) 384-4745.

Johnson's dual role as a pastor and a certified massage therapist gave him structural access to families and clients alike, and both positions carry distinct regulatory obligations under California law. Clergy members are classified as mandated reporters under California Penal Code Section 11165.7 and the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, legally required to report suspected child abuse to authorities within 36 hours, according to Eisner Gorin LLP. Separately, the California Massage Therapy Council holds the authority to immediately suspend or revoke a practitioner's certification once notified of pending felony sex crime charges, per Western City Magazine.

What Johnson Could Face If Convicted

The continuous sexual abuse charges Johnson faces under California Penal Code Section 288.5 require proving three or more lewd or sexual acts over a period of at least three months, and carry a state prison sentence of 6, 12, or 16 years upon conviction, according to the Miranda Rights Law Firm. The four separate lewd act counts under Penal Code Section 288 each carry a standard term of 3, 6, or 8 years in state prison.

If convicted, Johnson would not be eligible for probation. California Penal Code Section 1203.065 bars probation for anyone convicted of continuous sexual abuse or severe lewd acts against a child under 14, mandating prison time instead, per the same law firm's analysis. A conviction would also require lifetime sex offender registration under California Penal Code Section 290, according to Lawlytics.

For now, the case remains in its early stages, with Johnson having entered a not guilty plea to all six felony counts. Prosecutors' expectation that more survivors may step forward, combined with detectives actively investigating across two Ventura County communities, suggests the scope of the case could still grow in the weeks ahead.