News Releases

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 2432, authored by California Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, and strongly supported by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. AB 2432 will allow state courts to levy increased monetary penalties on corporations convicted of criminal offenses. Such penalties would, in turn, provide much-needed funding for crime victim service programs in California. These programs provide free medical care, mental health counseling, lost wages, courtroom advocacy, and temporary housing, to victims and their families.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Steven Wayne Bower (DOB 03/22/1970), of Ojai, was convicted by a jury of three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. The jury also found true several special allegations, including Bower having substantial sexual conduct and there being multiple victims.

Bower is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 24 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He is being held without bail in Ventura County Jail and faces a maximum of 45 years to life in state prison.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Joel James Gonzales (DOB 02/11/96), of Ventura, was sentenced to 16 years 8 months in state prison. He previously pled guilty to one count of felony lewd acts on a dependent adult and was convicted by a jury on July 22, 2024, of the attempted murder of a six-year-old girl, felony assault with intent to commit rape during a burglary, and misdemeanor aggravated trespassing. Several special allegations and aggravating factors were also found true, including Gonzales causing great bodily injury in commission of a felony, the crime involving great violence, the victim being vulnerable, and the defendant taking advantage of a position of trust.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has charged Michael Thomas McDevitt (DOB 11/24/81), of Simi Valley, with involuntary manslaughter for the fatal fentanyl overdose of Thousand Oaks resident Karissa Robinson. He is also charged with furnishing fentanyl and furnishing methamphetamine with the special allegation that he caused great bodily injury. McDevitt pled not guilty at his arraignment.

Wire fraud in real estate transactions is rapidly increasing, posing a significant threat to both buyers and sellers. According to the FBI, fraudsters are increasingly employing sophisticated social engineering techniques to infiltrate real estate transactions by impersonating trusted parties such as escrow officers, real estate agents, title representatives, and other key figures. This type of fraud typically occurs through electronic communications, with emails being the primary medium.

Once fraudsters gain access to the transaction, they often target crucial monies like buyer’s closing funds, seller’s proceeds, lender’s funds, and even broker commissions. By intercepting or manipulating communication, they deceive the parties into wiring money to fraudulent accounts, often leaving victims with significant financial losses and little recourse.

“Our office is committed to protecting residents from these sophisticated scams,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said. “We urge the public to stay vigilant, verify information with trusted sources, and be cautious before transferring any funds.”

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that William Cornelis Boer (DOB 04/20/63), of Moorpark, has been charged with two felony counts of attempted murder, one felony count of possessing explosives, and one felony count of attempting to set fire to a structure.

Boer’s arraignment was continued to October 11, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 13 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains in custody without bail.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Omar Cruz-Hernandez (DOB 07/02/85), of Oxnard, was sentenced to 152 years to life in state prison. Cruz-Hernandez was previously convicted by a jury on August 2, 2024, of seven felony counts of child sexual abuse.

“The defendant committed unspeakable acts of sexual abuse against multiple vulnerable children,” Deputy District Attorney Michael Kern said. “While nothing will ever undo the harm that the defendant inflicted, I hope this sentence provides even a small amount of closure to the victims and allows their healing process to continue. This sentence also demonstrates that these crimes will not be tolerated in our community and ensures that the defendant will never harm another child.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Michael Ortega (DOB 03/05/00), of Oxnard, was sentenced to 64 years 4 months to life in state prison for the murder of John Paul Carrillo. Ortega was previously convicted by a jury on August 9, 2024. The jury also found Ortega guilty of multiple gun charges, including felony possession of a gun with methamphetamine, felony possession of a gun by a felon, and felony possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Theresa Pollara, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Homicide Unit, prosecuted the cases.

“This case illustrates the tragedy of street gang crime,” Ms. Pollara said. “The defendant acted to impress his gang, but there was nothing noble or brave about shooting an innocent youth. The judge said it best when he explained to the defendant that ‘he took two lives, his and Mr. Carrillo’s’.” 

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jesus Andrew Sapien (DOB 12/20/79), of Port Hueneme, was sentenced to the maximum possible sentence of 325 years to life in state prison. Sapien was previously convicted by a jury on August 12, 2024, of 13 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. The jury also found true all aggravating circumstances and special allegations, including the three victims were under the age of 14, they were vulnerable, that Sapien engaged in substantial sexual conduct, and that he took advantage of a position of trust.

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

“The defendant betrayed the trust of a close-knit family to commit unspeakable acts of sexual abuse against multiple children,” Mr. Moreno said. “Today’s sentence reflects the severity of those crimes. While nothing can undo the harm the defendant has caused, I hope this sentence provides the victims and their families the closure they so profoundly deserve and ensures that the defendant will never again harm a child.”

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has officially proclaimed September as National Suicide Prevention Month, reaffirming their commitment to addressing the critical issue of mental health and suicide prevention in the community. This proclamation highlights the county’s dedication to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing resources for individuals struggling with mental health challenges.

In 2023, Ventura County had 45 gun-suicide deaths, the largest number since 2018. Four of those residents were 21 year old or younger. Firearms have been the leading cause of death for US children and teens since 2020, representing 18% of all deaths for children 1 to 18 years old in 2022, according to the CDC.

To promote firearm safety and protect children and schools from gun-related incidents, a coalition of Ventura County law enforcement agencies and educational leaders are relaunching a public service announcement (PSA). The PSA, titled “Gun Safe Storage: It’s The Law,” aims to raise awareness about the importance of secure gun storage and responsible firearms ownership.