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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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
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Thousand Oaks Man Sentenced to Prison for Gang Assault & Hate Crime
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Javier Gomez (DOB 11/22/05), of Thousand Oaks, was sentenced on May 26, 2026, to five years in state prison for a racially-motivated baseball bat attack on an African American man. Gomez previously pled guilty on April 27, 2026, to one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon.… Read More
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Los Angeles Man Charged in Series of Catalytic Converter Thefts
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Efran Esau Flores Alvarez (DOB 04/20/06), of Los Angeles, has been charged with nine felony counts of grand theft for allegedly participating in a series of catalytic converter thefts throughout Ventura County. Alvarez was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on May 21, 2026, and pled… Read More
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Simi Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Murdering Girlfriend
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Ramon Joseph Rivas (DOB 02/17/90), of Simi Valley, pled guilty on May 20, 2026, to second-degree murder for the stabbing death of his girlfriend, Jessica Marie Tinoco. Rivas also admitted all special allegations and aggravating factors, including use of a deadly weapon, the crime involving great… Read More
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Oxnard Man Arraigned for 2014 Park Stabbing Murder
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jose Antonio Jimenez (DOB 01/08/94), of Oxnard, was arraigned on May 20, 2026, for the 2014 killing of Labh Nigah. Jimenez is charged with one count of murder and three special allegations: personally using a knife in the commission of the offense, that the killing involved… 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.