News Releases

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Willis Nichols (DOB 03/15/03), of Oxnard, was ordered to stand trial for charges involving two separate shootings. Nichols has been charged with five felony counts including murder, for the shooting death of Adrian Sandoval.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that charges were filed against Daniel Conklin Naumann (DOB 12/24/57), of Camarillo, for multiple felony counts of grand theft and theft of utility services. Naumann owns and operates Naumann Family Farms in Oxnard. He is also a publicly elected board member of the United Water Conservation District (United). For a portion of the charged offenses, Naumann was also an alternate board member of the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency (Fox Canyon).

VENTURA, Calif. – The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Christopher Keith Rayhogan (DOB 09/06/03), of Ventura, had his first arraignment appearance on August 15, 2023.

VENTURA, Calif. – The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Alonzo Garcia (DOB 06/24/03), of Oxnard, was sentenced to 210 days in Ventura County Jail and placed on three years formal probation.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jacob Jamal Steir (DOB 06/19/97), of Oxnard, entered a plea of guilty on August 10, 2023, to voluntary manslaughter and attempted murder for the 2017 shooting that killed Alexis Jean Lopez and injured one other. Steir also admitted to three special allegations involving prior crimes, including a strike offense.

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.