News Releases

A new set of public safety laws strongly supported by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko have taken effect in 2026, strengthening penalties for looting and the impersonation of emergency personnel during declared emergencies.

“Ventura County is no stranger to disaster, and our residents know firsthand how devastating these events can be,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “When families are evacuating from a dangerous fire and first responders are risking their lives, we can’t have criminals exploiting the chaos and devastation. These new laws will allow us to crack down on looters and criminal impersonators.”

Governor Gavin Newsom signed companion legislation in Assembly Bill 468 and Senate Bill 571 into law in October. AB 468, authored by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, strengthens penalties for looting during declared emergencies and extends protections into the recovery and rebuilding phase following disasters. SB 571 reinforces penalties for individuals who impersonate firefighters, law enforcement officers, or other officials during emergencies.

The Los Angeles Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation formally recognized 14 members of the Ventura County Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force for their outstanding investigative work protecting children and holding offenders accountable. The ceremony was held at the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office on January 6, 2026. The honorees included investigators, detectives, and computer forensic examiners from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

The task force was created in December 2022 through agreements with the FBI and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The collaboration was established in response to the significant increase in children being exposed to online predators and sexual exploitation.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that       Jose Trinidad Bueno Garcia (DOB 02/11/75), of Van Nuys, pled guilty on December 17, 2025, to leading a large-scale drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout Ventura County. Garcia pled guilty to conspiracy to possess fentanyl for sale. He also admitted that the offense involved more than four kilograms of fentanyl, triggering a significant weight enhancement.

Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He is expected to be sentenced to 15 years in state prison. Thirteen years of Garcia’s anticipated sentence are attributable to enhancements authorized under Proposition 36, the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act. Prior to the passage of Proposition 36, offenders responsible for trafficking this volume of drugs would not have faced the increased penalties associated with weight enhancements.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Simranjit Singh Sekhon (DOB 01/07/90), of Bakersfield, has been charged with rape of an unconscious person. He is also charged with the aggravating factor of the victim being particularly vulnerable. Today, Sekhon made his first court appearance for arraignment and pled not guilty.

Sekhon, an Uber driver, picked up the victim outside a Thousand Oaks bar at approximately 1:00 a.m. on November 27, 2025, to transport her to her home in Camarillo. The victim, who was intoxicated, fell asleep during the ride. After the trip should have concluded, Sekhon allegedly continued driving the unconscious victim around Camarillo and sexually assaulted her.

He remains in custody with bail set at $500,000.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jose Zavala (DOB 06/13/85), of Fillmore, was sentenced to the maximum of 100 years to life in state prison for the sexual abuse of two minor victims. Zavala was previously convicted by a jury on November 10, 2025, of three counts of lewd acts upon a child and one count of continuous sexual abuse. Several special allegations were also found true, including that he took advantage of a position of trust or confidence and that the victims were particularly vulnerable.

“The imposition of the maximum sentence is warranted by the extreme and horrifying nature of these crimes,” Senior Deputy DA Michael Kern said. “It further sends an unmistakable message that abuse of this kind will not be tolerated in our community.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that a Ventura County jury found Leonardo Palafox (DOB 10/13/88), of Ventura, guilty on December 15, 2025, of three felony and three misdemeanor counts for a violent hit and run. The jury convicted Palafox of felony leaving the scene of an accident, two felony counts of cruelty to an animal, destroying or concealing evidence, and two counts of hit and run driving.

“This case presented a terrible set of circumstances for the victims,” Deputy District Attorney Patrick Benjamin said. “Thanks to the thorough investigation done by the Ventura Police Department and Ventura County Crime Laboratory, we were able to hold the defendant accountable for his actions. I hope the jury’s findings help the victims receive some closure to this tragedy.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that a review conducted by the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (VCSAKI) and the District Attorney’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit has determined that a man convicted more than 40 years ago of a 1982 rape in unincorporated Simi Valley was wrongfully convicted.

Recent DNA testing excluded the wrongfully convicted man, Richard Luna, as the individual responsible for the crime. The results identified a different individual whose DNA matched evidence collected from the victim’s sexual assault kit.

“While we can’t undo the past, we can use the power of DNA technology to exonerate the wrongfully convicted,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “This case underscores our responsibility as prosecutors to examine the integrity of our convictions and seek justice on behalf of those who served time for crimes they never committed.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that a jury has found Sergio Contreras (DOB 01/04/06), of Oxnard, guilty of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, and street terrorism. The jury also found true all special allegations, including causing great bodily injury in the commission of a felony and violent felony street gang activity.

Contreras is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 24 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains in custody with no bail and faces up to 18 years in state prison.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that two Los Angeles County men have been charged for defrauding Ventura County victims in a construction scam. Ben Nino Hunter (DOB 07/08/74), of Hidden Hills, and Moran Elkarif (DOB 12/17/81), of Los Angeles, are charged with seven felony counts of grand theft, conspiracy to defraud another’s property, and diversion of construction funds. They are also charged with two misdemeanor violations for contracting without a license and accepting excessive payment. The charges include special allegations and aggravating factors, including causing an excessive loss of more than $1.3 million, taking advantage of a position of trust, and targeting a particularly vulnerable victim.