Author Archives: News Releases

Ventura County law enforcement agencies want to warn local retailers and businesses about price gouging. Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s March 4, 2020, state of emergency declaration in response to the COVID-19 virus, businesses, retailers, and other service or goods providers may not charge a price that is more than 10 percent higher of the price that existed prior to the declaration.

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Freddy Alexander Lazaro (DOB 4/25/90), of Oxnard, was sentenced to eight years in prison by Judge David Hirsch for assaulting a 12-year-old child. The investigation began after the victim reported Lazaro assaulted her while she was sleeping.

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County Superior Court has ordered Ross Leo Wollschlager (DOB 5/31/63) be released as a transient, conditionally and under supervision, no later than March 17, 2020. Wollschlager, a former resident of Ventura, was convicted of raping two women in 1983, and of child molestation in 1989. In 1996, a jury determined Wollschlager was a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP).

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jamaul D. Cannon (DOB 9/3/76), of Carson, California, was sentenced to 270 days in jail for felony violations of identity theft, unlicensed practice of law and filing a false document.

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Earl Laverne Hoffman (DOB 5/27/44), of Newbury Park, was committed to an indeterminate term as a sexually violent predator (SVP) by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Anthony Sabo.

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today issued a consumer alert regarding price gouging following Governor Gavin Newsom’s March 4, 2020, declaration of a state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus. Pursuant to this state of emergency, price gouging as defined by Penal Code section 396 is illegal until September 4, 2020.

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Debra Elaine Ashcraft (DOB 11/23/57), of Camarillo, was sentenced to 180 days in the Ventura County jail for income tax evasion. The charges were the result of an investigation conducted by the District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit and the California Franchise Tax Board.

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the filing of a criminal complaint against Megan Elizabeth Zucaro (DOB 7/11/70), of Thousand Oaks, charging one felony count of grand theft, one felony count of diversion of construction funds, and one felony count of money laundering.

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that James Anthony Rojas (DOB 1/11/57), of Murrieta, was sentenced to 13 years 8 months in state prison by Judge David Worley.

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that Euren Balbuena (DOB 11/29/90), of Simi Valley, was charged with the murder of Zaira Patino, of Simi Valley, which occurred on February 27, 2020.

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