The former pastor of a Westminster church was convicted yesterday after pleading not guilty to one count of second-degree assault of a 17-year-old boy.

Carl John Crawford, 62, was pastor at St. Matthew's Church of Christ on Pleasant Valley Road until July 1998 and now lives in Pennsylvania, prosecutors said.

According to a plea agreement, Carroll Circuit Judge Luke K. Burns Jr. bound himself to imposing a suspended prison term on Crawford at a Nov. 8 sentencing.

Burns will consider granting probation before judgment, if Crawford's presentence investigation is favorable, according to court documents.

The boy told police he was touched inappropriately while visiting Crawford's home to discuss a camping trip in July 1998, court records show.