Sixty children from across Ventura County recently gathered at Camp Daley in Calabasas for six days of Camp HOPE, a program designed to give child victims of crime an opportunity to heal, build friendships, and simply be kids.
This yearโs camp included 20 children ages 7 to 11 and 40 youth ages 12 to 17. Forty-eight campers were returning participants, demonstrating the lasting connection many children have with the program.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Fernando Juarez Gomez Jr. (DOB 12/09/80), of Oxnard, has been sentenced to six years in state prison for sexual battery against patients who came to him for chiropractic treatment. Gomez was previously convicted by a jury on June 24, 2026, of five felony counts of sexual battery involving four different female victims. The court also found true the aggravating factor that Gomez took advantage of a position of trust while committing the crimes. Gomez also plead guilty to one count of battery against a fifth victim.
โThe defendant told these young women that his methods would eliminate their pain and help them achieve their athletic goals,โ Senior Deputy District Attorney Twyla Atmore said. โInstead, he touched the most intimate parts of their bodies for his own sexual gratification under the guise of therapeutic treatment. The juryโs verdict and todayโs sentence send a clear message that his behavior was unacceptable.โ
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Leonardo Rodriguez (DOB 03/05/05), of Pico Rivera, was sentenced on August 13, 2026, to five years and four months in state prison for his role as the driver in a 2024 crash that killed two people on U.S. 101 in Newbury Park. Rodriguez previously pled guilty on June 25, 2026, to two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter for causing the deaths of Serenity Rizkalla and Michael Estrella.
Deputy District Attorney George Brietigam, a member of the Ventura County District Attorneyโs Office General Trials Unit, prosecuted the case.
โAt 124 miles per hour thereโs no margin for error,โ Mr. Brietigam said. โThe deaths of Serenity Rizkalla and Michael Estrella were the foreseeable result of the defendantโs shockingly poor judgement and dangerous choices. This tragedy was preventable, and their families will forever live with the consequences. We hope todayโs sentence provides their loved ones with some measure of closure.โ
The Ventura County District Attorneyโs Office announced that David Hoetzlein (DOB 06/04/97), of Camarillo, admitted in court today that he strangled and killed his mother, Tomoko Hoetzlein, in their Camarillo home in 2022. However, because of a severe mental disorder that prevented him from having the mental capacity required to be held criminally responsible at the time of the killing, Hoetzlein was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Hoetzlein admitted to second-degree murder of his mother. Two independent doctors evaluated Hoetzlein and each concluded he met the legal criteria for a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors did not object to those opinions based on Hoetzleinโs documented mental health history, the doctorsโ reports, and input from Hoetzleinโs family.
โTomoko Hoetzlein was a devoted mother who did everything in her power to get her son the mental health treatment he desperately needed,โ said Chief Deputy District Attorney Erin Meister. โTragically, she lost her life while trying to help him.โ
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today the filing of felony charges against former Los Angeles Police Department detective and convicted rapist Michael Douglas Brambles (DOB 11/27/48), of Santa Maria, in connection with the 1994 kidnapping for robbery of a Thousand Oaks business owner.
At a news conference today, District Attorney Nasarenko and Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff detailed the decades-old case, while the victim, identified as SW, courageously spoke publicly about the attack.
Brambles is charged with kidnapping to commit robbery while personally using a firearm. The complaint also alleges several aggravating circumstances, including that the crime involved great violence, the victim was particularly vulnerable, the manner in which the crime was carried out indicated planning, sophistication or professionalism, and that Brambles engaged in violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society. Brambles was arrested August 12 in Santa Maria by District Attorney investigators, with the assistance of the Santa Maria Police Department.
The Ventura County District Attorneyโs Office and Ventura County Sheriffโs Office will hold a news conference Thursday, August 13, to announce the arrest and charges filed against Michael Douglas Brambles, a former LAPD detective and convicted rapist, accused of kidnapping for robbery of a Thousand Oaks business owner in 1994. The case was reopened thanks to continued testing as part of the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, Ventura County Sheriff Jim Fryhoff and the victim, who will be identified publicly only by her initials, S.W., will speak at the news conference.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Ramon Joseph Rivas (DOB 02/17/90), of Simi Valley, was sentenced to 51 years-to-life for the stabbing death of his girlfriend, Jessica Marie Tinoco. Rivas previously pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026, to second-degree murder and admitted all special allegations and aggravating factors, including use of a deadly weapon, the crime involved great violence, the victim being particularly vulnerable, and strike priors.
Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick, a member of the Ventura County District Attorneyโs Office Major Crimes Homicide Unit, prosecuted the case.
โThe defendantโs willingness to take responsibility for his horrendous crime doesnโt excuse what he did to the victim and her family,โ Mr. Barrick said.
VENTURA Calif. โ The Ventura County District Attorneyโs Office has issued a notice ordering The Colony Estate, an unpermitted wedding and event venue at 85 Crestview Avenue in Camarillo, to address ongoing public nuisance issues affecting the surrounding neighborhood. The notice was provided to the property owners, and is intended for any owners, operators, managers, occupants, lessees, or any other persons responsible for activities at the venue.
THOUSAND OAKS Calif. โ The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and California Lutheran University today announced the future home of the East County Family Justice Center will be on the campus of California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved the lease agreement for a building located at 26 Faculty Street on August 4, 2026, paving the way to expand critical services for victims and survivors throughout East Ventura County.
VENTURA Calif. โ Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Gerardo Arroyo Almanza (DOB 04/23/89), of Simi Valley, has pled guilty to second-degree murder for the killing of his father, Alfredo Arroyo Sancen. Almanza also pled guilty to three counts of criminal threats against additional family members. He admitted to a prior strike offense and a special allegation for the use of a weapon. ย