Judge rejects plea bargain in pastor's bigamy case

RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- A judge rejected a plea agreement this week for a pastor who pleaded no contest last month to felony bigamy charges.

Judge Shala S. Sabet said Thursday that a six-month jail sentence for Melvin Lynn Silas -- as Silas and prosecutors had agreed to in the plea bargain -- was not long enough.

Sabet said she felt a two-year prison term would be more appropriate, said Silas' prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Theodore J. Smith III.

Silas, a 55-year-old former Upland resident, is the pastor of Church of the Great I Am in Bellflower.

He and his wife of separated in 2007, and prosecutors allege Silas married another woman the following year while still legally married to his wife.

Silas appeared in West Valley Superior Court on Thursday for sentencing.

During the hearing, his former wife spoke in court and said she believed Silas deserved a longer sentence, said Smith, who was not in court but reviewed another prosecutor's notes.

Sabet, citing the wife's comments as well as Silas' extensive criminal record, rejected the plea agreement and set a new court date for June 2, Smith said.