VENTURA, Calif. – Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji (DOB 05/06/73), of Moorpark, pled guilty today to all counts and allegations related to the death of Paul Kessler. Alnaji pled guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter and felony battery causing serious bodily injury. He admitted the special allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury. Alnaji also admitted aggravating factors that he used a weapon and that the victim was particularly vulnerable.

VENTURA Calif. – Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Zuberi Kalaikulokahiokalani Sharp (DOB 03/26/00), of Newbury Park, was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison for the second-degree murder of his 15-year-old half-brother, Zayde.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced that Britney Spears resolved her DUI case at her first court appearance today, May 4, 2026, in Ventura County Superior Court. Prosecutors originally filed one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. At arraignment this morning, the case was resolved with a plea to reckless driving involving alcohol and an impairing drug. Ms. Spears’ attorney appeared for her and entered the guilty plea on her behalf.

This resolution is consistent with standard prosecutorial practice in cases involving defendants with no prior DUI history, a low blood alcohol level, and no collision or injuries.

“Ms. Spears took responsibility for this misdemeanor offense, entering a guilty plea at the earliest stage and two months from the day she was arrested,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said. “Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and doing so recklessly and erratically is an extremely serious crime endangering everyone on our roads and freeways.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Javier Gomez (DOB 11/22/05), of Thousand Oaks, pled guilty on April 27, 2026, in Ventura County Superior Court for a racially-motivated baseball bat attack on an African American man. Gomez pled guilty to one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon. He also admitted all aggravating factors and charged special allegations, including the gang allegation, hate crime allegation and causing great bodily injury.

“The victim and his wife showed tremendous courage by testifying at the preliminary hearing and confronting hate head on,” District Attorney Nasarenko said. “Our community will not tolerate hate-fueled violence or gang-related intimidation.”

Gomez is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He is expected to be sentenced to five years in state prison.