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District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that two Oxnard teenagers, 14 and 15 years old, have been charged with the murder of Davy Glen Pichel. The juveniles were in court this morning for arraignment. The Court ordered both minors detained at the Juvenile Facility. At the request of their attorneys, their arraignments were continued to June 24, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. in J3.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Christian Alexandre Hillairet (DOB 09/02/99), of Ojai, has been charged with two counts of murder for the May 2025 killing of Carolyn Nino De Rivera and the 2023 death of William Thompson, a City of Ventura resident. Prosecutors have filed several special allegations against Hillairet, including commission of more than one murder, use of a deadly weapon, and a strike prior. “The defendant’s alleged actions reflect a chilling pattern of violence and cruelty,” District Attorney Nasarenko said. “Our office is committed to securing justice for these victims and prosecuting Hillairet to the fullest extent of the law.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Alfredo Vasquez (DOB 07/27/99), of Moorpark, has been convicted by a jury for a gang attack on a Simi Valley hiking trail. The jury found Vasquez guilty on June 4, 2025, of assault with a deadly weapon and found true the special allegations of the crime being gang related and causing great bodily injury in commission of a felony. Judge Paul Baelly found true three additional aggravating factors: the crime involved great violence, the defendant was armed with and used a weapon, and the defendant has engaged in violent conduct. Senior Deputy District Attorney Hayley Moyer, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crime Gang Unit, prosecuted the case. “Ventura County residents should feel safe and secure while hiking on our beautiful trails, not worried about encountering gang violence,” Ms. Moyer said. “We would like to thank the jurors for…

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District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that two juveniles have admitted to felony charges related to the May 2, 2025, bomb and shooting threat that prompted a full lockdown at Ventura High School. “The juveniles who committed the false bomb threat and school shooting threat, have been held accountable for their criminal conduct,” Juvenile Unit Supervisor Maureen Byrne said. “These threats placed the entire Ventura High School campus on lock-down, and caused students, teachers, and the surrounding community to be in fear. School staff and the Ventura Police Department acted quickly, finding the juveniles responsible and restoring safety to the campus.”

Investigators with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation arrested Leonel Galindo Galindo (DOB 03/20/89), of Ojai, for lewd acts upon two child victims. Galindo was taken into custody outside of his work without incident on May 29, 2025. He is charged with eight felony counts of lewd acts upon a child, along with special allegations of molesting multiple victims and taking advantage of a position of trust. Galindo made his first appearance today in Ventura County Superior Court, where he pled not guilty to all charges.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Michael Gordon Butler (DOB 09/04/84), of Simi Valley, was sentenced on May 20, 2025, to four years in state prison for the death of Coldren James Lee Udell Kiblinger. Butler previously pled guilty on April 24, 2025, to one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. “This was a preventable tragedy. Coldren Kiblinger’s life was tragically cut down by Butler’s grossly negligent decisions on December 25, 2022,” Deputy District Attorney Jillian Ewan said. “While no amount of time will bring Coldren back, I hope the guilty plea will give some sense of justice and closure for the hardship Coldren’s family and friends have endured.”

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation will be hosting a community presentation to share required annual military equipment reports with the public. All Ventura County residents are welcome to attend on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Camarillo Police Department. The report and corresponding community meeting are part of legislation (Assembly Bill 481) signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 30, 2021, intended to increase public transparency, and provide government oversite when California law enforcement agencies seek to fund, acquire, and/or use “military equipment.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Antoine Nehme (DOB 07/22/51), of Victorville, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for orchestrating the 2004 murder of Dennis Wood, a Moorpark resident found dead in his home. A Ventura County jury previously convicted Nehme on March 17, 2025, of murder, conspiracy to commit a crime, and solicitation of murder. The jury also found true the special allegation that Nehme ordered the killing for financial gain. Additionally, Judge Paul Baelly found all charged aggravating factors were true, including that the crime involved great violence and was carried out with planning, sophistication, or professionalism.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Probation Department, People’s Justice Project, California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (“CRLA”), and The Colleges of Law –Ventura will host a free legal Clean Slate Clinic for Ventura County residents for criminal record expungement, felony reduction, and arrest record sealing on Friday, May 23, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Colleges of Law – Ventura campus located at 4475 Market St, Ventura, CA 93003. The purpose of the Clean Slate Clinic is to help eliminate barriers to employment and housing for individuals who have criminal records. A criminal record—no matter how old or how minor—can be a significant barrier to reentry for people when most employers, property managers, and universities use background checks to screen applicants.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Kevin Ray James (DOB 09/23/67), of San Bernardino, has pled guilty to the 1997 murder of Monica Leech during an armed bank robbery in Thousand Oaks, and admitted that he personally used a firearm during the commission of the crime. As part of the plea, James will receive a sentence of 19 years to life in state prison. The Leech and Cavaletto families shared that the resolution provides them with a sense of closure after decades of uncertainty and heartbreak: Losing Monica has been an unbearable tragedy. While nothing can bring her back, we are pleased that the defendant has accepted responsibility for her death. This outcome brings a sense of justice and accountability and allows us to begin moving forward while honoring Monica’s memory. We want to thank investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and prosecutors and investigators with the Ventura County…

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