In a joint news conference held on January 18, 2023, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and Sheriff Jim Fryhoff discuss the murder of Jose Velasquez and the 11 felony charges filed against Rotherie Foster for the crime.
News Releases
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DNA Testing Leads to Arrest and Charges in 1990 Oxnard Cold Case
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff, and Oxnard Police Department Assistant Chief Rocky Marquez announced today that Bobby Rollins Jr. (DOB 02/10/71), of Long Beach, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping with the intent to commit robbery. The arrest comes 36 years after Rollins is accused of committing the… Read More
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Arrest and Charges to Be Announced in 1990 Cold Case Investigation
News Conference: Thursday June 11, 2026, at 9 a.m. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, and Oxnard Police Department will hold a joint news conference to announce the arrest and filing of charges in a 1990 cold case kidnap and robbery investigation. Officials will discuss the renewed investigation, advances in forensic… Read More
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Kroger to Pay $1.25 Million to Resolve False Advertising Lawsuit
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that The Kroger Co. will pay $1.25 million to resolve a civil enforcement action alleging violations of California’s False Advertising Law and Unfair Competition Law arising from inaccurate calorie information advertised on several Kroger-branded bread products. The lawsuit was jointly prosecuted and investigated by the District Attorneys’… Read More
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Santa Paula Farm Labor Contractor Held to Answer for Workersโ Compensation Insurance Fraud
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Juana Patricia Barajas (DOB 08/01/71), of Santa Paula, has been held to answer on all charges, following a preliminary hearing, related to workersโ compensation insurance fraud, grand theft, and operating without required workersโ compensation insurance coverage while running Barajas Farm Labor Contracting. Barajas is charged with… Read More
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Man Sentenced for Criminal Threats and Hate Crime Against Couple
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that George Pierce (DOB 08/30/53), of Oxnard, was sentenced on June 4, 2026, to three years four months in state prison for a hate crime attack made against a black couple in Ventura. Pierce was previously convicted by a jury on May 7, 2026, of felony criminal… Read More
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Woodland Hills Man Sentenced for Selling Fentanyl Through Social Media
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Ronald Jelaniwarren Joseph (DOB 04/14/00), of Woodland Hills, was sentenced on May 27, 2026, to seven years in state prison for selling counterfeit Oxycodone โM-30โ pills containing fentanyl to Ventura County residents. Joseph previously pled guilty on January 12, 2026, to two felony counts of selling… Read More
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Simi Valley Man Charged with Attempted Murder of Police Officer Following Donut Shop Rampage
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Frank Leslie Blessing (DOB 06/26/67), of Simi Valley, has been charged with multiple felony offenses stemming from a violent incident that resulted in significant property damage and the attempted murder of a police officer. Blessing is charged with one count of attempted murder of a peace officer, one… Read More
Video Gallery
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Ventura County District Attorney and Sheriff Joint Press Conference January 18, 2023
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Family Justice Center Restraining Order Workshop
The Ventura County Family Justice Center is holding a new restraining order workshop for those in need. Demand for this service has skyrocketed during the pandemic years. The workshops will be three days a week. Two days in English and one day in Spanish.
If you need help or information between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, call us at (805) 652-7655, text us at (805) 947-7981, or email vcfjc.coop@venturacounty.gov.
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Centro de Justicia Familiar – Taller de รณrdenes de restricciรณn contra la Violencia Domรฉstica
El Centro de Justicia Familiar del Condado de Ventura estรก organizando un nuevo taller sobre รณrdenes de restricciรณn para los necesitados. La demanda de este servicio se ha disparado durante los aรฑos de la pandemia. Los talleres serรกn tres dรญas a la semana. Dos dรญas en Inglรฉs y un dรญa en Espaรฑol.
Si necesita ayuda o informaciรณn entre las 8:00 am y las 5:00 pm, de lunes a viernes, llรกmenos al (805) 652-7655, envรญenos un mensaje de texto al (805) 947-7981 o envรญe un correo electrรณnico a vcfjc.coop@venturacounty.gov.
Notable Cases
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Former School Counselor Held to Answer on All Charges in Child Molestation Case Involving 15 Victims
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that David Lane Braff Jr. (DOB 05/28/82), of Thousand Oaks, has been held to answer on all charges following a preliminary hearing in Ventura County Superior Court. The judge found sufficient evidence for Braff to stand trial on 33 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14,…
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Oxnard Man Charged with Murder for 2014 Park Stabbing
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced on April 6, 2026, that Jose Antonio Jimenez (DOB 01/08/94), of Oxnard, has been charged with murder for the 2014 killing of Labh Nigah. Jimenez made an appearance in court and had his arraignment continued to April 28, 2026. โThis was an ambush and a brutal crime committed…
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Oxnard Man Charged with Murder for Fatal Fentanyl Overdose
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Rodney Rey Yanez (DOB 03/11/69), of Oxnard, has been charged with the second-degree murder of Dylan Rusch. This marks the first time the Ventura County District Attorneyโs Office has filed murder charges against a defendant who knowingly sold the deadly synthetic drug, fentanyl, to a victim who overdosed…
Public Reports
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January 28, 2026
The Public Integrity Unit of the Ventura County District Attorneyโs Office has completedits review of the July 24, 2025, in-custody death of Mauricio Mateo Cuevas.
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November 7, 2024
Report on the April 7, 2023, shooting of Cristian Baltazar-Torres by Oxnard Police Officer Jarrod Sheffield.
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May 28, 2024
Report on the March 12, 2023, shooting of Adam Barcenas by Oxnard Police Department Officer Shayn Schwartz.