News Releases

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Francisco Garcia (DOB 10/07/68), of Oxnard, has been sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison for the DUI crash that killed Elicia Lopez Hernandez in 2018.

“Elicia Lopez Hernandez was struck down while trying to help others. Her loss and the injury and suffering the defendant caused are tragedies that justice alone cannot heal,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Edward Andrews said. “The sentence today brings accountability and serves to protect the community from a dangerous individual.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that    Albino Manuel Mendoza (DOB 10/22/73) and Maria Antonia Hernandez (DOB 10/30/82), both of Ventura, have been charged with real estate related crimes, including mortgage fraud and money laundering. Specifically, Mendoza has been charged with one felony count of grand theft, one felony count of mortgage fraud, seven felony counts of money laundering, and one felony count of conspiracy. Hernandez has been charged with one felony count of mortgage fraud, two felony counts of money laundering, and one felony count of conspiracy. Both also face several special allegations and aggravating factors.

Mendoza and Hernandez were arrested on August 26, 2025, by the Ventura Police Department after an extensive investigation by the District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Fraud Unit. Senior Deputy District Attorney Dominic Kardum is the prosecutor handling the case.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today the filing of felony charges against nine defendants accused of participating in the largest organized retail theft case in Home Depot’s history, a multi-county operation responsible for millions of dollars in losses to stores across Southern California.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that John Williams (DOB 03/04/93), of Ventura, has pled guilty to six felony counts and three misdemeanors in connection with vandalism involving swastikas on public and private property.

Williams changed his plea on August 19, 2025, admitting guilt to three felony counts of vandalism for damage exceeding $400, three felony hate crime counts of placing a terrorizing symbol on private property, two misdemeanor counts of vandalism, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a stun gun by a convicted felon. He also admitted to the special allegations for committing the crimes while on parole and having a prior strike conviction.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jesse Andrew Mendoza (DOB 02/01/05), of Santa Barbara, was convicted by a Ventura County jury on August 15, 2025, for assaulting a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer during a 2024 DUI arrest. The jury found Mendoza guilty of felony assault on a peace officer, assault, escape from arrest, resisting an officer, and driving under the influence. Prior strike special allegations were also found true by the judge. Mendoza faces a maximum of 15 years in state prison when sentenced.

“This case demonstrates how police officers are at risk in every circumstance and are subjected to unprovoked attacks,” Deputy District Attorney Jillian Ewan said. “I am grateful to the jury for their careful consideration of the evidence and for delivering a just and thoughtful verdict.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Shannon David Rudman (DOB 05/15/66) pled guilty on August 12, 2025, to carrying a loaded firearm on his person and a special allegation that he was not the registered owner of the firearm.

On July 30, 2025, at approximately 1:50 p.m., Rudman entered the Port of Hueneme Harbor Master building and made a series of alarming and incoherent statements to the Harbor Master, who immediately called law enforcement. Responding officers from the Port Hueneme Police Department contacted Rudman, who told them, “Disarm me first.” Officers searched him and found an unregistered handgun loaded with a 15-round magazine.

Last week child victims of domestic violence and abuse gathered at Camp Daley in Calabasas for the 10th annual Camp Hope. Nearly 60 Ventura County children spanning from ages seven to seventeen attended the five night and six day summer camp. Campers took part in classic camp activities including swimming, arts and crafts, archery, wall climbing, zip lining and singing camp songs around a campfire. In addition, campers engaged with materials created by the Alliance for HOPE International aimed at communicating to each child that there is hope for their future no matter what has happened in their past.

“Children deserve to laugh and play, but for many child victims of crime that gets stolen from them” said Acting Chief Deputy District Attorney Brent Nibecker, who leads the District Attorney’s Victim and Community Services Division. “At Camp Hope, that sense of play is given back to them with a reminder that they matter and they have a future.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that four men have been charged and arraigned in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking operation accused of delivering fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine into Ventura County.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Omar Hernandez Ruiz (DOB 07/27/87), of Santa Paula, has been charged with conspiracy to transport methamphetamine. Ruiz also faces several special allegations and aggravating factors, including committing the crime for the benefit of, at the direction of, and in association with a criminal street gang.

Ruiz was incarcerated at the California State Prison, Centinela at the time of these alleged events. He is serving 156 years to life in prison for a 2013 Santa Paula murder and assault on a peace officer.

On July 31, 2025, a Ventura County jury found Gabriel Torres (DOB 04/02/04), of Port Hueneme, guilty of attempted murder. The jury also found true the special allegation that Torres personally and intentionally discharged a firearm during the crime, as well as allegations that he inflicted great bodily injury, committed the offense with great violence, was armed with a weapon at the time of the offense, and engaged in violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society.