News Releases

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 to thank our partner counties, Los Angeles, Sonoma, and Shasta, for their collaboration and commitment to protecting consumers across California.”

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 conduct demands the consequence of state prison.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that James Matthew Godsey (DOB 03/11/79), of Camarillo, was convicted by a jury of six felony counts of grand theft. The jury also found true all charged special allegations, including that Godsey caused an excessive loss of over $100,000 and that he took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the crimes.

From 2015 to 2023, Godsey worked as a bookkeeper for Channel Islands Aviation, where he was responsible for processing payroll and handling accounts payable. Between 2017 and 2023, evidence showed that he repeatedly inflated his own pay by adding unauthorized bonuses and extra wages. He also issued himself phony reimbursements for company expenses. Over six years, Godsey stole over $527,000 from his employer.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today Danielle Marie Dixon (DOB 04/17/87), of Camarillo, was convicted by a jury on September 24, 2025, for charges related to a 2019 bar assault. The jury found Dixon guilty of two felony counts: assault with a deadly weapon and assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. Dixon was also convicted of one misdemeanor count of battery. The jury found true all charged special allegations and aggravating factors, including that Dixon was armed with and used a weapon, and that she has a prior strike conviction.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that John Williams (DOB 03/04/93), of Ventura, was sentenced on September 17, 2025, to five years four months in state prison for vandalism involving swastikas on public and private property.

In a victim impact statement submitted to the court, one of the three victims described the effect of Williams’ actions:
“His deliberate choice to plaster Nazi swastikas—symbols of hate, fear, and division—across public and private spaces was not mere vandalism, but an attack on the safety and unity our community strives to maintain. No one should have to live in fear of hate symbols or the hidden danger of someone like John Williams.”