News Releases

October 21, 2020

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Judge Henry Walsh denied the demurrer of BSF Fitness (BSF), a gym located in the City of Ventura, to the complaint issued by the District Attorney’s Office. The Court’s ruling, issued October 20, 2020, allows the District Attorney’s unfair business competition case against BSF to proceed. Additionally, Judge Walsh found BSF in contempt of court for nineteen violations of a court-ordered preliminary injunction. This injunction, issued September 4, 2020, prohibited BSF from operating an indoor gym facility in violation of state and local health orders related to COVID-19. Judge Walsh had previously found BSF in contempt for having violated the injunction by operating indoors on September 8, 9, and 10, 2020. At the hearing, the court ordered BSF to pay $10,500 in contempt fines and awarded attorney fees to the District Attorney’s Office.

October 21, 2020

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced that Michael Seidman (DOB 02/11/81), of Thousand Oaks, has been charged in Ventura County Superior Court with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for the killing of Fred Rosenberg.

On October 17, 2020, deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office arrested Seidman for driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury after he crashed nearly head-on into Mr. Rosenberg while traveling on Erbes Road in Thousand Oaks. Mr. Rosenberg, a resident of Westlake Village, died at the hospital two days after the collision.

October 20, 2020

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that November 7, 2020, marks the second anniversary of the Thousand Oaks Borderline Bar and Grill shooting, when 12 lives were taken, including on-duty Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Ron Helus.

October 19, 2020

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that misdemeanor vandalism charges are approved for filing against Jeffrey Moore (DOB 4/27/62) and Darrin Stone (DOB 1/25/60), both of Thousand Oaks, related to their roles in damaging a “BLM” (Black Lives Matter) sign posted on private property in Thousand Oaks on different occasions. Both Moore and Stone have agreed to participate in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Misdemeanor Diversion Program for their roles in the vandalism of the sign.

October 16, 2020

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Los Angeles County resident Theodore Brian Childers (DOB 6/24/38) pled guilty to one felony count of Penal Code section 115, recording a false document.

October 16, 2020

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a misdemeanor charge of battery is approved for filing against Martha Kuppenbender (DOB 7/25/57), of Ventura, related to a traffic and pedestrian incident that occurred at the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Telephone Road in the city of Ventura on July 19, 2020. Kuppenbender has agreed to participate in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Misdemeanor Diversion Program for her role in the battery.

October 15, 2020

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that
Raymond Gutierrez Jr. (DOB 11/16/59), of Ventura, a former manager in the County of Ventura Public Works Agency, pled no contest to a misdemeanor violation of failing to file an accurate Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests.

October 15, 2020

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Richard Steven Valencia (DOB 09/26/78), of Santa Paula, was charged in the October 9, 2020, shooting of Samir Salgado, also of Santa Paula. The complaint charges one count of attempted murder with an allegation that Mr. Valencia personally used a firearm, one count of felony assault with a deadly weapon on Mr. Salgado, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

October 9, 2020

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that William Justin Koznar (DOB 04/27/88), of Moorpark, was charged with the October 7, 2020, murder of Sara Goodwin, of Modesto, California.

October 5, 2020

VENTURA, California – District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Vidal Fregoso (DOB 11/04/69), of Camarillo, was sentenced to 30 days confinement in the Ventura County jail, 400 hours of community service, 36 months of formal probation, and a $5,000 fine.