News Releases

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Willis Nichols (DOB 03/15/03), of Oxnard, has been convicted of seven felony charges stemming from two separate shootings in Oxnard in December 2021 and March 2022, including the first-degree murder of Adrian Sandoval. The jury found Nichols guilty of first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, attempted murder, and three counts of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle. Several special allegations and aggravating factors were also found to be true, including personal and intentional discharge of a firearm, causing great bodily injury, and that the manner in which the crime was carried out indicated planning, sophistication, or professionalism.

“We appreciate the jury’s hard work in carefully considering the evidence involving six victims across seven charges and the related allegations,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Theresa Pollara said. “Willis Nichols has shown a pattern of serious criminal behavior, and we will be seeking a sentence that reflects the severity of the crimes he committed.”

Nichols is scheduled to be sentenced on April 6, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 45 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains in custody without bail and faces 159 years to life in state prison. Due to his age at the time of the crime, California law will provide this convicted murderer with a chance at youthful offender parole after just 24 years in prison.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and GIFFORDS, the gun violence prevention and advocacy group, hosted the “Safer Together” Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) Symposium at the Ventura County Government Center. The symposium brought together prosecutors, city attorneys, law enforcement leaders, and mental health and violence prevention advocates to advance implementation of California’s evolving firearm safety laws.

The symposium comes months after Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1344 into law, authorizing a pilot program in Ventura, Alameda, El Dorado, and Santa Clara counties that allows district attorneys to directly petition the court for GVROs. GVROs temporarily suspend a person’s legal access to firearms when they are found to pose a significant risk of harm to themselves or others and less restrictive alternatives are inappropriate. The bill was authored by California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and sponsored by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that three of the four members of a sophisticated burglary crew were sentenced on February 20, 2026. The crew is responsible for the coordinated commercial burglary on May 25, 2025, at 5-Star Jewelry & Watch Repair and Dr. Conkey’s Candy and Coffee Shop in Simi Valley.

Manuel David Ibarra and Camilo Antonio Aguilar Lara were each sentenced to four years four months in the Ventura County Jail. Heidi Trujillo was sentenced to four years in jail. The fourth defendant, Sergio Andres Mejía-Machuca, had his sentencing hearing continued to March 26, 2026. 

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Ida Veronica Hernandez (DOB 06/27/80) was sentenced to four years, four months in state prison for an extensive embezzlement scheme committed while she was employed as a bookkeeper for a Thousand Oaks medical practice.

“I wish trusted employees that steal understood the devastation they leave behind,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise said. “It’s not just financial. It’s the mental pain caused by disappointment and the frustration of having to unravel the records for months and sometimes years.”

Along with her prison sentence, Hernandez was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim in the amount of $560,000.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Kebin Dong (DOB 02/01/88) and Wei Nie (DOB 08/08/85), of Hacienda Heights, have been charged with four felony counts for their alleged roles in running a sex services business. Both defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and three counts of pimping.

The married couple allegedly owned and operated an internet-based website advertising commercial sex services and facilitating appointments at numerous residential and hotel locations statewide, including sites in Ventura County. Earlier this month, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and partner agencies executed search warrants in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Multiple sex workers were contacted including three in Ventura County.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Gary Steven Daniel II (DOB 09/21/78), of Oxnard, was sentenced on February 17, 2026, to seven years, four months in state prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He had pleaded guilty on January 15, 2026, in two cases involving CSAM possession. These convictions included admissions that he had previously been convicted of possessing CSAM, was a California sexual offender registrant, and had been released on bail when the second crime occurred.

“Since 2015, Mr. Daniel became increasingly sophisticated in his quest to obtain CSAM,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise said. “However, the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Unit of our Bureau of Investigation was one step ahead to bring Mr. Daniel to justice.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jason Randall Eil (DOB 03/13/85), of Thousand Oaks, was sentenced to 8 years in state prison for embezzlement. Eil previously pleaded guilty on December 30, 2025, to seven counts of grand theft. He also admitted several special allegations, including the aggravated white collar crime enhancement for a fraudulent scheme involving a taking of more than $500,000, an admission that he took advantage of a position of trust to commit the crimes, and an admission that his crimes involved planning, sophistication, and professionalism.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Marisol Flores (DOB 09/11/95), of Oxnard, has been charged with murder for the death of her newborn baby. She also faces an additional charge of assault on a child causing death.

On February 8, 2026, Flores is believed to have given birth to a child in a homeless encampment along West Vineyard Avenue in Oxnard. Witnesses reported seeing Flores still pregnant the day before. When they saw her again on February 8, she was no longer pregnant, and the newborn was not with her.

Flores is accused of killing the infant shortly after giving birth. The baby’s body was discovered within the encampment and showed visible signs of blunt force trauma.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Martin Herrejon Vieyra (DOB 11/06/67), of Santa Paula, has been sentenced to 110 years to life, plus eight years for rape and child molestation involving multiple victims over several decades. Vieyra was previously convicted by a jury on January 12, 2026. The jury found him guilty of eight felony charges: rape by force, foreign object penetration, and six counts of lewd acts upon a child.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Stuart Gardner, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Unit, prosecuted the case.

“While no punishment can undo the trauma inflicted, today’s lengthy sentence sends a clear message: those who prey on children will be prosecuted and held fully responsible for their actions,” Mr. Gardner said. “Our office will continue to stand with victims and work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that    Sergio Contreras (DOB 01/04/06), of Oxnard, was sentenced to 16 years in state prison for assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, and street terrorism. He was previously convicted by a jury on December 10, 2025.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Lauren Malan, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Gangs Unit, prosecuted the case.

“This was a gang-motivated attack that could have easily resulted in a loss of life,” Ms. Malan said. “The defendant’s actions demonstrate the extreme danger gang violence poses to our community, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of that conduct and our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable.”