News Releases

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that a jury has found Jalen Amir Yoakum (DOB 08/07/00), of Lancaster, guilty of multiple felony charges for trafficking, exploiting, and abusing a young woman over several months. The jury convicted Yoakum on June 29, 2026, of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, pimping, pandering by encouragement, corporal injury to a cohabitant, and dissuading a witness by force or threat. Several special allegations and aggravating factors were found true, including that Yoakum has a prior strike conviction, engaged in violent conduct, targeted a particularly vulnerable victim and involved another person in the commission of the crimes.

“This verdict recognizes the victim’s courage and the brutality she survived,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Rikole Kelly said. “Human trafficking does not always look like chains or locked doors. In this case, it hid under the guise of a relationship and was enforced through violence, fear, shame, and control.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Loay Abdel Fattah Alnaji (DOB 05/06/73), of Moorpark, was sentenced to one year in Ventura County Jail and two years of felony probation for the death of Paul Kessler. Alnaji previously pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026, to felony involuntary manslaughter and felony battery causing serious bodily injury. He also admitted a special allegation that he personally inflicted great bodily injury, along with aggravating factors that he used a weapon and that the victim was particularly vulnerable. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office argued for a state prison sentence and objected to the court’s decision to impose one year of jail and probation.

Victim impact statements were submitted prior to the sentencing hearing for the court to read, including a statement from Mr. Kessler’s widow.

“There are no words to describe the pain of losing a husband in such a sudden and violent way,” his widow wrote. “The grief is relentless. The silence in our house, the absence of his voice, his companionship, his love and the future we had planned together are losses I carry with me every day.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that a 16-year-old juvenile was found guilty today of willful, deliberate, and premeditated first-degree murder for the June 2025 killing of Davy Glen Pichel, who was sleeping outside a church in Oxnard. The minor was 14 years old at the time of the offense.

“This was an exceptionally brutal and senseless attack on a vulnerable member of our community,” said Deputy District Attorney Juliet Buff, who prosecuted the contested jurisdictional hearing. “Today’s verdict ensures that both juveniles have now been held accountable for Mr. Pichel’s murder. While no court outcome can restore the life that was taken, we hope this result provides Mr. Pichel’s loved ones with a measure of justice.”

The minor is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13, 2026, at the Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard. He faces a maximum base term of seven years in the Secured Youth Treatment Facility. Under California law, a juvenile who commits a murder may be committed to the Secured Youth Treatment Facility for four to seven years. A court may choose one of these options for murder. No matter what the sentence, the juvenile court only has jurisdiction over a person until the age of 25 years old.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jaime Torres (DOB 05/25/84), of Santa Paula, was convicted by a jury on June 24, 2026, of child molestation. Torres was found guilty of continuous sexual abuse, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and lewd acts upon a child. All aggravating factors were found true, which included the victim being particularly vulnerable and Torres taking advantage of a position of trust.

“I’m grateful to the jury for the time and care they devoted to this difficult and emotional case,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno said. “Their verdict holds the defendant accountable for the harm he caused and brings long-overdue justice to the victim and her family. I hope it gives them the closure they deserve.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that federal prosecutors have assumed prosecution of a Riverside County man previously charged in Ventura County in connection with a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking operation involving hundreds of pounds of narcotics and multiple firearms.

On June 17, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California obtained a federal indictment charging Sergio Samuel Sanchez (DOB 04/19/89) with federal narcotics and firearms offenses arising from the same conduct alleged in the Ventura County case. On June 22, 2026, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss the state case in favor of federal prosecution. Sanchez made his first federal court appearance on June 23 for arraignment.

“This case involved an extraordinary quantity of methamphetamine and multiple firearms, posing a significant threat to public safety,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “Federal prosecution ensures that those who engage in large-scale drug trafficking operations face the substantial penalties available under federal law.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Leonel Galindo Galindo (DOB 03/20/89), of Santa Paula, pled guilty on June 22, 2026, to child molestation against two victims. Galindo pled guilty to eight counts of lewd acts upon a child and admitted the aggravating factor that he took advantage of a position of trust and confidence.

“Child molestation inflicts trauma that can endure for a lifetime.” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Emily Reber, who prosecuted the case. “Thanks to the courage and persistence of the victims and their family, we were able to hold the defendant accountable. We hope that this conviction can help them to begin their journey towards healing.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Stephen Vincent Chavez (DOB 01/17/85), of Moorpark, was sentenced to one year in Ventura County Jail and three years of felony probation for incest and providing alcohol to his 18-year-old biological daughter. Chavez previously pled guilty on May 18, 2026, to felony incest and misdemeanor providing alcohol to a minor. He also admitted he took advantage of a position of trust and that the victim was particularly vulnerable.

Prosecutors objected to the court’s sentence and requested the maximum sentence allowed by law of three years in state prison.

“The People requested the maximum three-year state prison sentence because the defendant exploited his position as a father, violated his daughter’s trust, supplied her with alcohol, and engaged in criminal conduct that forever altered the course of her life,” said Deputy District Attorney Tessa McCarty. “While we respect the court’s decision, we continue to believe a state prison sentence was warranted under the facts of this case.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Rejean Morgan Tabor (DOB 06/26/91), of Simi Valley, has been charged with felony willful, deliberate, premeditated attempted murder for the alleged strangulation attack of a shopper inside a Simi Valley Target store. Tabor is also charged with crimes involving four additional victims, including two misdemeanor counts of battery, one misdemeanor count of assault, and one misdemeanor count of child abuse for allegedly inflicting injury on a minor.

Tabor made his first court appearance today. No plea was entered, and criminal proceedings were suspended after the defense declared a doubt as to Tabor’s competency. He remains in custody with bail set at $750,000 pending a competency hearing scheduled for July 16, 2026.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that federal prosecutors have taken over the prosecution of four men previously charged in Ventura County in connection with a large-scale narcotics trafficking operation involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine.

On June 12, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office obtained a federal grand jury indictment charging Jorge Humberto Valdivia (DOB 05/30/99), Angel Omar Azpeitia Garcia (DOB 01/17/95), Jorge Arturo Marquez Chavez (DOB 05/13/98), and Victor Manuel Otero Correa (DOB 12/11/02), all of North Hollywood, with 17 federal counts arising from the same conduct alleged in the Ventura County case. As a result of the federal prosecution, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office dismissed its case against the defendants on June 15, 2026. Under the federal indictment, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

“The amount of narcotics recovered in this case was staggering and posed a significant threat to public safety throughout Ventura County,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Audry Nafziger, who handled the Ventura County case. “Federal prosecution ensures these defendants face substantial consequences and reflects the seriousness of the conduct alleged.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Gabriel Esquivel (DOB 01/13/02), of Oxnard, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder for the deaths of two bicyclists on State Route 1 (SR-1) near Solimar Beach.

The collision caused fatal injuries to Kellie Standish, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. William Colby Tucker was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. A third victim suffered major injuries.

Esquivel is charged with murder because he had previously been warned about the deadly consequences of impaired driving. Following a December 19, 2025, DUI arrest in Oxnard, Esquivel received multiple Watson advisements, which warn drivers that if they drive under the influence again and someone is killed, they can be charged with murder. That case remains pending in Ventura County Superior Court.