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Ventura County District Attorney and Sheriff Joint Press Conference January 18, 2023

In a joint news conference held on January 18, 2023, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and Sheriff Jim Fryhoff discuss the murder of Jose Velasquez and the 11 felony charges filed against Rotherie Foster for the crime.

Family Justice Center Restraining Order Workshop

The Ventura County Family Justice Center is holding a new restraining order workshop for those in need. Demand for this service has skyrocketed during the pandemic years. The workshops will be three days a week. Two days in English and one day in Spanish.

If you need help or information between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, call us at (805) 652-7655, text us at (805) 947-7981, or email vcfjc.coop@ventura.org.

Centro de Justicia Familiar – Taller de órdenes de restricción contra la Violencia Doméstica

El Centro de Justicia Familiar del Condado de Ventura está organizando un nuevo taller sobre órdenes de restricción para los necesitados. La demanda de este servicio se ha disparado durante los años de la pandemia. Los talleres serán tres días a la semana. Dos días en Inglés y un día en Español.

Si necesita ayuda o información entre las 8:00 am y las 5:00 pm, de lunes a viernes, llámenos al (805) 652-7655, envíenos un mensaje de texto al (805) 947-7981 o envíe un correo electrónico a vcfjc.coop@ventura.org.

Murder Charge Filed in Death of Simi Valley Resident Rachel Castillo

On November 15, 2022, District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Zarbab Ali (DOB 01/04/97), of Hawthorne, had been charged with the murder of Simi Valley resident Rachel Castillo. The murder charge was filed in the Ventura County Superior Court. Ali was also charged with a special allegation of lying in wait and personal use of a knife.

A press conference was held to announce the charges and provide an update on the investigation, which was led by the Simi Valley Police Department.

Notable Cases

Lemon Packing Facility Settles Case for Unlawful Release of Air Contaminant
On February 8, 2019, a malfunction of fruit washing equipment at the Association’s facility triggered the release of commercial grade sodium hypochlorite into the air. Sodium hypochlorite is the active ingredient in household bleach and is used to sterilize fruit prior to packing. Two local schools, Blanchard Elementary School and Briggs School, were required to ...
Fisherman Settles Case Involving Diesel Spill at Ventura Harbor
On June 2, 2018, the Ventura Harbor District (VHD) was notified that Albatro was listing in its slip. Upon arriving on scene, VHD observed red dye diesel in the water surrounding the sinking boat. The United States Coast Guard and the VHD immediately performed containment and cleanup efforts to control and collect the fuel spill. ...
Settlement Reached in Fuel Spill at Camarillo Airport
On February 19, 2019, a Sun Air employee was filling a 3,000 gallon mobile refueler truck containing jet A-1 fuel. A refueler overfill protection device malfunctioned, resulting in a significant amount of jet fuel being released into the environment.

News Releases

January 27, 2023
Ventura County law enforcement leaders issue statement regarding death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee.
January 23, 2023
On Monday, January 23, Congresswoman Julia Brownley presented a check for $640,000 to the County of Ventura to expand crime victim services and resources in Oxnard and Port Hueneme. The money will help with the expansion of the Ventura County Family Justice Center, a program administered by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, at a new ...
January 19, 2023
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that several members of an international theft group entered guilty pleas this week to first-degree burglary and conspiracy charges.
January 17, 2023
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Rotherie Durell Foster (DOB 11/03/85), of Camarillo, has been charged with the murder of Jose Velasquez. Foster is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 13 of the Ventura County Superior Court. District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff ...
January 13, 2023
The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing a case submitted to our office, involving the disappearance and murder of Jose Velasquez. Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff and District Attorney Erik Nasarenko will hold a joint news conference on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at noon.
January 13, 2023
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Dr. Sanjay Masson (DOB 06/26/65), a Moorpark resident and Thousand Oaks area psychiatrist, pled no contest to charges of auto insurance fraud on Thursday, January 12, 2023.

Public Reports

December 9, 2021
Report on the November 5, 2020 Shooting of Javier Magaña by Ventura Police Officer Joaquin Ortega.
February 12, 2021
Report on the July 5, 2019, shooting of Joshua Ortiz by California Highway Patrol Officer Timothy Putzel.
December 17, 2020
Report on the November 7, 2018, Use of Deadly Force by California Highway Patrol Officer Todd Barrett and Ventura County Sheriff’s Sergeant Ronald Helus at the Borderline Bar & Grill Mass Shooting Incident.

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