May 26, 2023
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that charges were filed against, Lathanial Lavar Walker (DOB 02/26/97), for the attempt kidnapping for rape of a 75-year-old woman while she worked in her garden. On May 26, 2023, Walker pled not guilty at arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court. On the morning of May 24, 2023, Walker is alleged to have approached the victim on South Dunning Street in Ventura. Walker is accused of pulling down his pants and grabbing the victim from behind. The victim struggled with Walker as he allegedly dragged her to the side of her home and attempted to take her inside before neighbors came to assist her. Walker fled the area on foot and was arrested a short time later in the Pacific View Mall parking lot by the Ventura Police Department. Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s…
May 25, 2023
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Probation Agency and Interface Children & Family Services are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the inaugural Restorative Justice Conferencing, for 10 graduates. The program, titled Transforming Harm to Healing, kicked off in July 2022, and is available for non-violent offenders, ages 12 through 21.
May 23, 2023
California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with Merced District Attorney Nicole Silveira, Ventura District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, and Yolo District Attorney Jeff Reisig, today announced a settlement against Walmart over allegations that illegal weapons — specifically brass knuckles — were sold to California consumers by Walmart and by third-party sellers through Walmart’s website. As part of the settlement, Walmart will pay $500,000 and be required to prevent the sale of illegal weapons, including by third parties, on its website. Today’s announcement is the result of an investigation conducted by the California Department of Justice in partnership with the District Attorney’s Offices of Merced, Ventura, and Yolo Counties. “It was too easy for our investigators to make online purchases of illegal brass knuckles,” said Ventura District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “Walmart, and other retailers need to take a hard look at their online sales practices and ensure that they are in compliance with California law.” Under California law,…
May 19, 2023
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Shawn Michael Shirck (DOB 02/23/94), of Ojai, was convicted by jury of two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the 2019 deaths of Margaret Dahl of Oak View, and Phyllis Porter of Georgia. The jury also found true the special allegations that Shirck used a knife to commit the crimes. In 2019, Ms. Porter, age 82, was on an extended visit with her daughter, Ms. Dahl, age 59, at Ms. Dahl’s home on Valley Ridge Street in Oak View. Ms. Dahl had been in a long-term relationship with the homeowner, and cared for the house when he was away. The homeowner had four sons, including Shawn Shirck. Shirck previously lived in the residence with Ms. Dahl but had moved out weeks earlier. Shortly after midnight on August 24, 2019, Shirck violently attacked and killed the two victims with a knife, in the home on…
May 19, 2023
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Austin Allen Eis (DOB 05/29/98), of Camarillo, pled not guilty today to 24 counts, including murder for the death of 15-year-old Wesley W. of Thousand Oaks. Prior to today’s arraignment, 12 additional counts were added to the charges filed against Eis. On April 18, 2023, a series of criminal acts were allegedly carried out by Eis in Ventura County. Eis is alleged to have entered a Simi Valley Walmart, where he used pepper spray and stabbed one employee, physically assaulted and attempted to drag a second employee, and lunged at two additional employees with a knife. After leaving Walmart, Eis is alleged to have fled to a residence in Camarillo and forced his way inside the home. Eis left Camarillo and is accused of driving his vehicle to Thousand Oaks where he intentionally targeted and struck high school students outside of Westlake High School.…
May 17, 2023
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that a $75,000 judgment was ordered against Watkins Cattle Company over false advertising of their meat products. The civil case, filed in Ventura County Superior Court, centered around beef advertisements claiming to be “from our pasture to your plate.” The meat in many cases did not come from local pastures and was purchased from third parties out of county and out of state. Watkins Cattle Company also misrepresented to customers the amount of acreage they owned or leased. “False advertising isn’t just a violation of consumer trust, it’s a betrayal of hardworking farmers and ranchers who actually put in the time and effort to raise their livestock locally,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Karen Wold, a member of the District Attorney’s Office Consumer Protection Unit. “When companies choose to misrepresent their products, they not only deceive their customers, but they also cheat…
May 16, 2023
On May 16, 2023, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced that Raquel Villarreal (DOB 03/21/87), was sentenced in Ventura County Superior Court to 3 years 4 months in state prison. Villarreal had previously pled guilty on April 11, 2023, to charges in three separate felony cases. On November 29, 2021, Villarreal violated a restraining order and confronted her ex-husband at their daughter’s school in Oxnard. Villarreal got into an argument with her ex-husband and struck him several times in the arm with a cane, while also hitting the truck window frame. Villarreal left the scene, and the victim called the police. Two Oxnard Police Department officers were able to contact Villarreal later that day and attempted to arrest her for domestic violence and for violating a restraining order. Villarreal resisted arrest and began to struggle with the officers. She kicked them several times in the lower body before the…
May 15, 2023
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office (VCDA) has issued a cease-and-desist demand to the Ojai City Council. The cease-and-desist demand alleges the Ojai City Council violated the Brown Act. The Brown Act requires meetings of qualifying legislative bodies to be open to the public, with an opportunity for public comment. This requirement is subject to narrow exceptions specified within the Brown Act. The VCDA concluded the Ojai City Council exceeded these exceptions during closed sessions in violation of the Brown Act. Ojai City Councilmember Leslie Rule first disclosed the violations to the media and later reported them to the VCDA. Although the Brown Act allows the disclosure of closed-session information to the District Attorney, there was no applicable exception that allowed Rule to first publicly disclose the violations to the media. Accordingly, Rule’s initial disclosure of the Council’s closed-session violations to the media…
May 4, 2023
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Librado Ruiz Rojo (DOB 01/23/01), of Oxnard, pled guilty to one felony count of second-degree murder for the death of Carlos Murillo. Rojo also admitted to the special allegation that he killed Murillo with a knife. On January 26, 2020, Oxnard police officers were dispatched to a residence on Sycamore Street in Oxnard regarding a stabbing victim at a house party. Emergency medical personnel also responded, but the victim died at the scene from multiple stab wounds. Investigators later learned that Rojo and Murillo attended the same party. As Murillo’s group was leaving, Rojo challenged them to a fight. A fight ensued between the two men and Rojo stabbed Murillo multiple times. An autopsy showed Murillo was stabbed 10 times. Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit, prosecuted the case. “The family and…
May 4, 2023
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Rodolfo Duran (DOB 07/31/95), of Santa Paula, was sentenced in Ventura County Superior Court to 34 years to life in prison. Duran previously pled guilty on April 6, 2023, to sodomy of a child 10 years of age or younger and forcible sodomy of a child under 14 years of age for conduct related to two separate victims. Duran also admitted to the special allegations that the crimes involved great violence, he took advantage of a position of trust, and the victims were vulnerable. In 2018, one of the victims reported the crimes to her Santa Paula school teacher. Detectives quickly identified a second victim and established that Duran had molested them for years. While being interviewed by detectives from the Santa Paula Police Department, Duran confessed to the allegations. Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Moreno, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s…