Category Archives: News Releases

VENTURA, Calif. –District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Gabriel Torres (DOB 04/02/04), of Port Hueneme, was sentenced to 32 years in state prison for attempted murder. He was previously convicted by a jury on July 31, 2025. The jury also found true the special allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm during the crime, as well as allegations that he inflicted great bodily injury, committed the offense with great violence, was armed with a weapon at the time of the offense, and engaged in violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society.

VENTURA, Calif. – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jose Luis Meza Jr. (DOB 10/30/90), of Oxnard, was sentenced yesterday to 18 years 8 months in state prison for the sexual assault of a female truck driver. Meza Jr. pled guilty on September 29, 2025, to the felony charges of assault with intent to commit rape and forcible oral copulation. He also admitted several special allegations and aggravating factors, including the commission of a prior strike offense.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that on October 22, 2025, a second amended complaint was filed against David Lane Braff, Jr. (DOB 05/28/82), of Thousand Oaks, alleging two additional victims. Braff now faces charges related to a total of 15 victims and 33 counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14. Today, Braff was arraigned and pled not guilty to the additional charges. Braff remains in custody at the Ventura County Jail without bail following the denial of Braff’s motion to have bail set. One of the newly alleged victims is from Braff’s tenure at McKevett Elementary School in Santa Paula, where he worked as a school counselor between 2015 and 2019. The other newly alleged victim is from his time at Bright Star Schools in Los Angeles, where he worked from approximately November 2019 through December 2021.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., which has 499 locations in California, has entered into a Stipulated Judgment and will pay $246,000 in civil penalties, restitution, and costs to resolve allegations of violating California’s gift card redemption law. The complaint, filed in Ventura County on behalf of the District Attorney’s Offices of Ventura, Los Angeles, Sonoma, and Shasta counties, alleged that Chipotle unlawfully denied consumers the right to cash out gift cards with balances of less than $10. California Civil Code section 1749.5 provides that consumers holding gift cards valued under $10 may request a cash refund rather than spending the remaining balance. “California law ensures that consumers can keep every dollar that is rightfully theirs,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “This settlement not only holds Chipotle accountable but also guarantees that consumers can easily obtain the refunds the law provides. I want…

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District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jesse Andrew Mendoza (DOB 02/01/05), of Santa Barbara, was sentenced on October 21, 2025, to 11 years state prison for assaulting a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer during a 2024 DUI arrest. Mendoza was previously convicted by a Ventura County jury on August 15, 2025. The jury found Mendoza guilty of felony assault on a peace officer, assault, escape from arrest, resisting an officer, and driving under the influence. Prior strike special allegations were also found true by the judge. “The safety of the Ventura community, including our peace officers, is our top priority,” said Deputy District Attorney Jillian Ewan who prosecuted the case. “Those who endanger the public by driving under the influence and commit acts of violence against peace officers will be held accountable.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Margarita Jimenez (DOB 02/03/91), of Oxnard, and Jorge Garfias (DOB 08/31/87), of Ventura, have been sentenced for the first-degree murder of Yanelly Vargas. Jimenez was sentenced to 80 years to life in state prison. Garfias was sentenced to 25 years to life behind bars. Both were previously convicted by a jury on September 5, 2025. The jury also found true the special allegation that Jimenez personally and intentionally discharged a firearm. Jimenez and Garfias were found not guilty of kidnapping the victim. On September 8, 2025, Jimenez admitted her strike prior, serious felony prior, and other aggravating factors. The court found aggravating factors for Garfias true, including that he took advantage of a position of trust.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that three juveniles charged with hate crime allegations in connection with the August 1, 2025, Simi Valley movie theater parking lot assault have been remanded into the Juvenile Facility following detention hearings held on October 15 and October 16, 2025. The three minors also pled not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors argued for detention, supported by reports from the Ventura County Probation Department recommending the minors be detained. The court ordered all three to be remanded to the Juvenile Facility. Their pre-trial conference is scheduled for October 29, 2025, and their contest is set for November 3, 2025.

On Friday October 10, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1344, authored by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and sponsored by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, officially enacting a pilot program that allows district attorneys in select counties to directly petition the courts for Gun Violence Restraining Orders (GVROs), also known as “Red Flag Laws.” “This is a significant law for community safety,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “Prosecutors are uniquely positioned and qualified to seek these restraining orders to prevent gun violence, and I thank Assemblymember Irwin for championing this much-needed legislation.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that five juveniles have been charged for their actions during an assault in a Simi Valley movie theater parking lot on August 1, 2025. The alleged assaults include three separate victims. Two of the teens are also charged for another altercation in the same parking lot on May 30, 2025. Three of the juveniles have been charged with felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, with the special allegation of a hate crime for each one. A fourth juvenile faces felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, as well as misdemeanor criminal threats and misdemeanor battery. The fifth juvenile is charged with misdemeanor criminal threats and misdemeanor battery.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that convicted felon Michael Gabriel Hosey (DOB 10/01/75), of Los Angeles, was sentenced to five years in state prison after violating the terms of his parole. On October 1, the court finalized the terms of the sentence. Judge Kristi Peariso imposed the previously suspended sentence after Hosey tested positive for illegal drugs. Hosey was originally sentenced on April 25, 2025, to 365 days in county jail and three years of formal probation for a terrifying armed home invasion and a separate vandalism spree. At that time, the judge suspended a five-year, eight-month state prison sentence and imposed local jail time with probation. “This dangerous individual is now where he belongs, state prison,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “A woman and her teenage daughter fled upstairs in their home to escape multiple gunshots, which sowed fear and terror in the household. This criminal…

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