News Releases

The Ventura County Family Justice Center (FJC) announced today the expansion of on-site legal services with the addition of a second Ventura County Legal Aid (VCLA) attorney. This week, the new attorney began serving clients at the Family Justice Center, further strengthening support for victims of domestic violence and elder abuse.

“Ventura County Legal Aid provides crucial services for survivors navigating our complex civil legal systems, often during the worst times of their lives,” said Family Justice Centers Administrator Rachael Watkins. “They ensure rights of victims are upheld and empower clients to take actionable steps towards regaining control and independence while instilling hope throughout the process. We are grateful for their continued support and partnership.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Aaron Jabezz Holmes (DOB 12/02/95), of Oxnard, was sentenced on January 12, 2026, for the 2015 first-degree murder of Angel Diaz and for assault with a firearm against another victim. Holmes previously pleaded no contest on September 24, 2025, to first-degree murder, including the allegation that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing death, and to assault with a firearm. He also admitted to several special allegations and aggravating factors including a prior strike.

At sentencing, and over the strong objection from prosecutors, the judge struck Holmes’ prior strike for robbery before sentencing him to 54 years to life for his crimes.

By striking the prior strike, the court reduced the amount of actual time Holmes will serve before becoming eligible for parole. Without the court’s ruling, Holmes would have been ineligible for youthful offender parole and statutory elder parole, delaying any possibility of parole until approximately age 60. As a result of this decision, Holmes will now be eligible for parole consideration at approximately age 44.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Zarbab Ali (DOB 01/04/97), of Hawthorne, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder of Rachael Castillo, the mother of their children. Ms. Castillo was in the process of divorcing the defendant, and the divorce was nearly complete at the time Ali murdered her. Ali was convicted on November 21, 2025, of first-degree murder with the special circumstance that the murder was committed by means of lying in wait. Prior to trial, Ali pled guilty to the felony crime of sexual contact with the victim’s remains after her death.

“Where any human being should feel shame, disgust, and loathing for what he has done, the defendant has shown no remorse,” Senior Deputy District Attorney David Russell said. “His actions place him among the very worst offenders this court will ever see. He deserved no leniency, and today’s sentence ensures he will never again be free to endanger another person or inflict further harm on society.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Martin Herrejon Vieyra (DOB 11/06/67), of Santa Paula, has been convicted of rape and child molestation in a case involving multiple victims over several decades. The jury found Vieyra guilty of eight felony charges: rape by force, foreign object penetration, and six counts of lewd acts upon a child. Several special allegations and aggravating factors were also found true, including that there were multiple victims and the victims were particularly vulnerable.

“The passage of time does not erase the harm caused by sexual violence, nor does it diminish the responsibility of those who commit it,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Stuart Gardner said. “After a full jury trial, the verdict affirms that justice can still be achieved and that survivors deserve to be heard, believed, and protected—no matter how many years have passed.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that  Michael Samuel Weisman (DOB 07/14/93), of Oak Park, was arraigned on January 7, 2026, and entered a plea of not guilty to multiple felony charges stemming from threats made against his parents, law enforcement officers, and the public. Weisman faces three felony counts of making criminal threats, one felony count of maliciously informing of a false bomb, two felony counts of attempting to prevent an executive officer from performing their duties, and misdemeanors for elder abuse and false reporting of an emergency. Weisman also faces aggravating factors of the crime involving great violence and that the victims were particularly vulnerable.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Jose Santos Villalobos (DOB 04/13/91), of Oxnard, was convicted by a jury on January 8, 2026, for attempting to steal his child with forged legal documents. Villalobos was found guilty of felony attempted child abduction, filing false or forged documents, forgery, and misdemeanor disobeying a domestic relations court order. Following the verdict, the court found true the aggravating factor that the manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication, or professionalism.

“This case involved a calculated effort to deceive law enforcement and our office by fabricating judicial authority,” Deputy District Attorney Cesar Ponce said. “The verdict makes clear that such conduct will not be tolerated, especially when a child’s safety is at stake.”

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.