News Releases

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Probation Agency and Interface Children & Family Services are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the inaugural Restorative Justice Conferencing, for 10 graduates. The program, titled Transforming Harm to Healing, kicked off in July 2022, and is available for non-violent offenders, ages 12 through 21.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with Merced District Attorney Nicole Silveira, Ventura District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, and Yolo District Attorney Jeff Reisig, today announced a settlement against Walmart over allegations that illegal weapons — specifically brass knuckles — were sold to California consumers by Walmart and by third-party sellers through Walmart’s website. As part of the settlement, Walmart will pay $500,000 and be required to prevent the sale of illegal weapons, including by third parties, on its website. Today’s announcement is the result of an investigation conducted by the California Department of Justice in partnership with the District Attorney’s Offices of Merced, Ventura, and Yolo Counties.

“It was too easy for our investigators to make online purchases of illegal brass knuckles,” said Ventura District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “Walmart, and other retailers need to take a hard look at their online sales practices and ensure that they are in compliance with California law.”

Under California law, brass knuckles are classified as a deadly weapon. Offering or exposing for sale brass knuckles is a violation of Penal Code section 21810 and is punishable by imprisonment up to one year. In addition, the offering or exposing for sale of metal knuckles and other dangerous weapons in violation of applicable Penal Code sections violates the unlawful prong of the Unfair Competition Law, Business and Professions Code sections 17200.

Read the full news release here: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-district-attorneys-merced-ventura-and-yolo-counties

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Shawn Michael Shirck (DOB 02/23/94), of Ojai, was convicted by jury of two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the 2019 deaths of Margaret Dahl of Oak View, and Phyllis Porter of Georgia. The jury also found true the special allegations that Shirck used a knife to commit the crimes.

In 2019, Ms. Porter, age 82, was on an extended visit with her daughter, Ms. Dahl, age 59, at Ms. Dahl’s home on Valley Ridge Street in Oak View. Ms. Dahl had been in a long-term relationship with the homeowner, and cared for the house when he was away. The homeowner had four sons, including Shawn Shirck. Shirck previously lived in the residence with Ms. Dahl but had moved out weeks earlier.

Shortly after midnight on August 24, 2019, Shirck violently attacked and killed the two victims with a knife, in the home on Valley Ridge Street. The victims were discovered the morning of August 24. One of Shirck’s brothers came to the home and discovered a shattered glass door and the victims inside.

Shirck was arrested by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office on August 25, 2019.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Nguyen, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Homicide Unit, was the prosecutor who handled the case.
Shirk is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 48 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Austin Allen Eis (DOB 05/29/98), of Camarillo, pled not guilty today to 24 counts, including murder for the death of 15-year-old Wesley W. of Thousand Oaks. Prior to today’s arraignment, 12 additional counts were added to the charges filed against Eis.

On April 18, 2023, a series of criminal acts were allegedly carried out by Eis in Ventura County. Eis is alleged to have entered a Simi Valley Walmart, where he used pepper spray and stabbed one employee, physically assaulted and attempted to drag a second employee, and lunged at two additional employees with a knife. After leaving Walmart, Eis is alleged to have fled to a residence in Camarillo and forced his way inside the home. Eis left Camarillo and is accused of driving his vehicle to Thousand Oaks where he intentionally targeted and struck high school students outside of Westlake High School. Wesley W. and three other students were hit. Several other students were narrowly missed by the car.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Amber Lee, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Homicide Unit, is the prosecutor assigned to the case.

Eis is scheduled to appear in court July 19, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He is being held in custody without bail.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that a $75,000 judgment was ordered against Watkins Cattle Company over false advertising of their meat products.

The civil case, filed in Ventura County Superior Court, centered around beef advertisements claiming to be “from our pasture to your plate.” The meat in many cases did not come from local pastures and was purchased from third parties out of county and out of state. Watkins Cattle Company also misrepresented to customers the amount of acreage they owned or leased.

“False advertising isn’t just a violation of consumer trust, it’s a betrayal of hardworking farmers and ranchers who actually put in the time and effort to raise their livestock locally,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Karen Wold, a member of the District Attorney’s Office Consumer Protection Unit. “When companies choose to misrepresent their products, they not only deceive their customers, but they also cheat the very people who provide the backbone of our food system.”

Watkins Cattle Company will pay $75,000 made payable under the California Unlawful Competition Law and pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 17206. The money will be allocated to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office as follows:
• $50,000 to civil penalties and placed in the Consumer Protection Trust Fund account for the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office to enforce laws protecting the public against unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices and deceptive advertising.
• $25,000 will be used to cover the investigative costs incurred by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Payment of the $75,000 will be made in six installment payments beginning on or before June 1, 2023, and concluding by February 1, 2025.

On May 16, 2023, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced that Raquel Villarreal (DOB 03/21/87), was sentenced in Ventura County Superior Court to 3 years 4 months in state prison. Villarreal had previously pled guilty on April 11, 2023, to charges in three separate felony cases.

On November 29, 2021, Villarreal violated a restraining order and confronted her ex-husband at their daughter’s school in Oxnard. Villarreal got into an argument with her ex-husband and struck him several times in the arm with a cane, while also hitting the truck window frame. Villarreal left the scene, and the victim called the police. Two Oxnard Police Department officers were able to contact Villarreal later that day and attempted to arrest her for domestic violence and for violating a restraining order. Villarreal resisted arrest and began to struggle with the officers. She kicked them several times in the lower body before the officers were able to secure her in handcuffs.

The next day, while in custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility, Villarreal was uncuffed for fingerprint processing. Without warning, Villarreal struck a processing deputy in the face several times before the deputy could respond and other jail staff intervened.

Fifteen months later, while in custody for the previous violent assaults, Villarreal attacked another inmate. On February 20, 2023, Villarreal was unprovoked in her assault on the female inmate. Villarreal punched, stomped, and slammed the inmates head against the floor before deputies entered the locked section and removed Villarreal.

Deputy District Attorney Hayley Moyer, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crime Unit, prosecuted the cases.

“The defendant’s actions over the course of these three cases can only be described as a pattern of unpredictable, aggressive, and violent behavior, both in and out of custody,” DDA Moyer said. “The sentence today ensures that all crime victims receive justice under the law.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office (VCDA) has issued a cease-and-desist demand to the Ojai City Council. The cease-and-desist demand alleges the Ojai City Council violated the Brown Act.

The Brown Act requires meetings of qualifying legislative bodies to be open to the public, with an opportunity for public comment. This requirement is subject to narrow exceptions specified within the Brown Act. The VCDA concluded the Ojai City Council exceeded these exceptions during closed sessions in violation of the Brown Act.

Ojai City Councilmember Leslie Rule first disclosed the violations to the media and later reported them to the VCDA. Although the Brown Act allows the disclosure of closed-session information to the District Attorney, there was no applicable exception that allowed Rule to first publicly disclose the violations to the media.

Accordingly, Rule’s initial disclosure of the Council’s closed-session violations to the media constitutes a separate violation of the Brown Act.

“Absent a valid exception, a city’s council deliberations and decision making must be open to public scrutiny,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “The Council’s closed-session discussions violated the Brown Act, as did Councilmember Rule’s disclosure of those discussions to the media instead of the Office of the District Attorney.”

The allegations were reviewed by Senior Deputy District Attorney Anthony Wold, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Unit.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Librado Ruiz Rojo (DOB 01/23/01), of Oxnard, pled guilty to one felony count of second-degree murder for the death of Carlos Murillo. Rojo also admitted to the special allegation that he killed Murillo with a knife.

On January 26, 2020, Oxnard police officers were dispatched to a residence on Sycamore Street in Oxnard regarding a stabbing victim at a house party. Emergency medical personnel also responded, but the victim died at the scene from multiple stab wounds.

Investigators later learned that Rojo and Murillo attended the same party. As Murillo’s group was leaving, Rojo challenged them to a fight. A fight ensued between the two men and Rojo stabbed Murillo multiple times. An autopsy showed Murillo was stabbed 10 times.

Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit, prosecuted the case.

“The family and friends of Carlos Murillo have had to endure so much over the past three-and-a-half years trying to understand why Carlos was gone, while simultaneously and tirelessly advocating for the person who murdered him to be brought to justice,” Barrick said. “Today’s guilty plea will serve as a testament to the strength they have displayed during this awful ordeal that no family should ever have to bear.”

Rojo is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 23 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Rodolfo Duran (DOB 07/31/95), of Santa Paula, was sentenced in Ventura County Superior Court to 34 years to life in prison. Duran previously pled guilty on April 6, 2023, to sodomy of a child 10 years of age or younger and forcible sodomy of a child under 14 years of age for conduct related to two separate victims. Duran also admitted to the special allegations that the crimes involved great violence, he took advantage of a position of trust, and the victims were vulnerable.

In 2018, one of the victims reported the crimes to her Santa Paula school teacher. Detectives quickly identified a second victim and established that Duran had molested them for years. While being interviewed by detectives from the Santa Paula Police Department, Duran confessed to the allegations.

Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Moreno, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Unit, prosecuted the case.

“The victims in this case demonstrated incredible courage by reporting the unimaginable abuse they suffered at the hands of the defendant,” Moreno said. “It is my hope that today’s sentence provides them with a sense of closure and justice while also sending a clear message that child sexual abuse will not be tolerated in Ventura County.”

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office takes allegations of sexual abuse seriously. We are committed to holding perpetrators of these crimes accountable and ensuring that victims receive the support and resources they need to heal.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that on May 2, 2023, Robert Ryan McGraa (DOB 06/01/81), of Thousand Oaks, was sentenced to 15 years 4 months state prison after pleading guilty to six felony charges related to human trafficking, possession of child sexual abuse material, and luring a minor for a lewd purpose. McGraa is a previously convicted sex offender and human trafficker.

In 2019, members of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Investigation received a tip that McGraa had child sexual abuse material in his email account. After a lengthy and comprehensive investigation, investigators discovered that McGraa had numerous images of prepubescent child females being sexually assaulted by adult males. McGraa actively exchanged these types of images over the internet with other child sexual assault predators.

McGraa had multiple prior felony convictions of sexual crimes against minors. In 2005, he was arrested by the Ridgecrest Police Department for sex crimes, including unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Upon his conviction, he was sentenced to 16 months prison and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Another prior conviction initiated from an arrest of McGraa in 2016 by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s detectives received an anonymous tip that McGraa was posting nude images of a 15-year-old child runaway. McGraa had arranged for several suspects to pay for sex with the child victim. McGraa pled guily to commercial sex trafficking of a minor and was sentenced to five years prison.

Deputy District Attorney Rikole Kelly, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Unit, prosecuted the case.

“Robert McGraa preyed on vulnerable individuals and exploited them for his own benefit,” Kelly said. “Thanks to the courage of the victims, and the tenacity of Supervising District Attorney Investigator Terry Dobrosky and our other law enforcement partners, our community is now safe from McGraa’s dangerous and manipulative conduct.”

Deputy District Attorney Kelly is also a member of the Ventura County Human Trafficking Task Force (VCHTTF), which was established in 2019. Co-led by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Interface Children & Family Services, the task force works to prevent, identify, investigate, disrupt and prosecute human trafficking crimes in our community. In addition to holding perpetrators accountable, VCHTTF provides services and resources to victims, spreads community awareness and compiles county-level data and statistics.

Some indicators of sex trafficking may include sudden or unexplained changes in behavior, mood, or appearance; signs of physical abuse or neglect; poor hygiene or malnutrition; frequent absences from school or work; unexplained increase in cash or purchases; multiple cell phones; lack of control over their own finances; being accompanied by someone else at all times; and disconnection from friends and family.

Sex trafficking is not a victimless crime. Victims are often young girls and they are typically controlled through force or fear. Combating this problem is a top priority within the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Community members are urged to become more aware of the pervasive problem of human trafficking and to call 911 to report suspicious activity. You can also contact the Forever Found R.E.A.C.H. Emergency Hotline for youth (805) 261-1212, or the Interface Human Trafficking Hotline for adults (800) 636-6738.