News Releases

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Nathaniel Wills (DOB 04/11/88), of Los Angeles, pled not guilty to second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and other charges related to a deadly 2021 car crash in which Wills is accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that charges were filed against Christopher Michael Loza (DOB 11/21/76), of Winnetka, for two felony counts of communicating with a minor with the intent to commit sexual acts and arranging to meet a child for sexual acts.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Paul Herder (DOB 03/20/58), of Pahoa, Hawaii, pled not guilty at arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Marine Dermadzhyan to serve as a judge of the Ventura County Superior Court.

Ms. Dermadzhyan, born to Armenian immigrants, has served as a deputy district attorney in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office since 2014. Most recently, she prosecuted domestic violence cases.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Alejandro Morales (DOB 02/15/84), of Oxnard, pled guilty on July 28, 2023, to one count of voluntary manslaughter for the 2014 death of 24-year-old Joshua Aaron Van and one count of attempted murder for the shooting of 18-year-old Dontre Ronell Bryant. Morales, who drove the suspect vehicle, also admitted to the gun allegations and the special allegation of the crime being committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Librado Ruiz Rojo (DOB 01/23/01), of Oxnard, was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison for the murder of Carlos Murillo. Rojo previously pled guilty on May 4, 2023, to one felony count of second-degree murder and admitted to the special allegation that he killed Mr. Murillo with a knife.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko warns Ventura County residents to be aware of cellular texting and dating apps (applications) scams.

Unfortunately, highly sophisticated criminals are exploiting the vulnerabilities of both electronic texts and dating apps to scam victims out of substantial sums of money.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Thomas Charles Ballas (DOB 07/11/89), of Westlake Village, was sentenced on July 21, 2023, to one year Ventura County Jail and is required to register as a sex offender. Ballas, previously pled guilty to two felony counts of sending harmful matter to a minor.

Ballas, a former theater technical specialist at Westlake High School, worked closely with the choir program. In December 2022, a student came forward to report that Ballas was sending her explicit photos of himself through the social media app Snapchat.

Further investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office revealed a possible second victim. Upon discovery of this information, detectives contacted the second victim, who then confirmed that she too had received explicit photos of Ballas when she was in high school.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Victor Villanueva Legaria (DOB 06/13/90), of Oxnard, was convicted by a jury on July 20, 2023, of two felony counts of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 and one felony count of lewd acts on a child, aged 14 or 15. The jury also found true the special allegations that Legaria took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offenses and that the victim was particularly vulnerable.

On July 20, 2023, a Ventura County jury found Keith Eric Cook (DOB 04/26/88), of Camarillo, guilty of felony robbery with personal use of a firearm, false imprisonment, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. All special allegations including use of a firearm and this being Cook’s third strike, were also found to be true. This marks Cook’s third robbery conviction, which makes him eligible for the maximum sentence of life in prison.