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Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Hugo Quebrado (DOB 02/04/01), of Oxnard, appeared for arraignment on February 8, 2024, in the Ventura County Superior Court on one felony count of murder, with a special allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing the victim’s death, and one count of possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is proud to announce our partnership with Childhood Matters, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the mental health and well-being of children and youth. This new partnership will include on-site services at the Ventura County Family Justice Center. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in addressing the mental health needs of children and families in our community.

In response to the emerging rise of AI-generated child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko has teamed up with California Assemblymember Marc Berman, who recently introduced Assembly Bill 1831. The new legislation aims to address the escalating threat posed by artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation of lifelike, illicit content involving children. CSAM refers to visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct involving minors.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Victor Manuel Avalos, Jr. (DOB 03/06/03), of Oxnard, was charged on January 23, 2024, with 10 felony counts related to alleged human trafficking and child exploitation. The charges include three counts of unlawful act with a child 10 years old or younger, three counts of forcible lewd act upon a child, causing a minor to engage in commercial sex acts, advertising child sexual assault material (CSAM) for sale, and possessing CSAM. Each count also carries a special allegation that Avalos, Jr. took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offense. His arraignment was continued.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Vidal Vargas Morales (DOB 12/30/60), of Fillmore, was sentenced on January 23, 2024, to two years state prison and is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Penal Code section 290. Morales was previously convicted on December 12, 2023, of one felony count of lewd act upon a child who was 15 years old. The special allegation that he took advantage of a position of trust and confidence to commit the offense was also found true by the court.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Euren Balbuena (DOB 11/29/90), of Simi Valley, was sentenced on January 17, 2024, to 33 years to life in prison for three felony convictions, including the murder of girlfriend Zaira Patino-Trejo. Balbuena was previously convicted by a jury on November 21, 2023, of the first-degree murder of Patino-Trejo, battery causing great bodily injury, and assault with a deadly weapon against her mother. The jury also found two special allegations to be true, that Balbuena personally used a knife in the killing and caused great bodily injury in commission of a felony.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Gerald Rous (DOB 07/11/61), of Ventura, pled guilty on January 10, 2024, to workers’ compensation insurance fraud, a felony.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jordan Nathaniel Boyd (DOB 07/01/83), of Port Hueneme, has been charged with four felony counts of attempting to cause a minor to engage in commercial sex acts. Each count also carries a special allegation that the manner in which the crime was carried out indicated planning, sophistication, or professionalism. Boyd was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on January 11, 2024, where he pled not guilty.

Today, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors proclaimed the month of January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month and January 13, 2024, as Soroptimist STOP Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Ventura County. Our office is committed to ending human trafficking in Ventura County. We recognize the urgency of this cause, and we will continue to pursue justice for survivors while holding predators accountable. Erik Nasarenko, Ventura County District Attorney

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is informing the public about a recent report our office received from the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators (IAFCI, December 2023) regarding QR code fraud, and the relative financial and security risks associated with this increasing growing form of fraud.