News Releases

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that David Johnson (DOB 03/17/68), of Ojai, has been charged with six felony counts of child molestation against multiple victims. He faces four counts of lewd acts upon a child and two counts of continuous sexual abuse along with the special allegations of substantial sexual conduct and the victims being under 14 years old. Johnson was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court and pled not guilty to all charges.

Johnson, who worked as both a pastor and massage therapist, is accused of molesting two children under the age of 14. The abuse is alleged to have happened over several years at locations in Ojai and Oxnard. He had access to the children through a familial relationship.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Samuel Matthew Rocha (DOB 01/25/93), of Port Hueneme, pled guilty on August 24, 2026, to second-degree murder in the death of Pedro Valdez. Rocha had previously been convicted by a jury in April of four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and two counts of battery. The jury was unable to reach verdicts on the remaining counts. The jury found the special allegation of causing great bodily injury in commission of a felony to be true. Now, four months later, Rocha pled guilty to murder and admitted to using his car as a deadly weapon.

“Rocha made the deliberate decision to use his vehicle as a weapon, killing 16-year-old Pedro Valdez and injuring four other young bicyclists,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Richard Simon said. “This conviction holds him accountable and brings a measure of justice to Pedro, his family, and the other victims.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Omar Romo (12/17/88), of Oxnard, was convicted by a jury of the murder of Oscar Rodriguez. Romo was found guilty of murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Multiple charged special allegations and aggravating factors were found true, including personal and intentional discharge of a firearm, that Romo was on parole when the crime was committed and strike priors.

“Oscar Rodriguez lost his life to senseless street violence,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Hayley Moyer said. “There is no place for using a firearm to resolve conflicts and this conviction holds the defendant accountable for that choice.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that   William Bao Khoa Ly (DOB 02/06/00), of Simi Valley, has been charged with stealing nearly $100,000 from an 89-year-old Thousand Oaks man whom he had befriended. Ly is charged with felony counts of theft from an elder or dependent adult, grand theft, and unauthorized use of personal identifying information. The charges include aggravating factors that the victim was particularly vulnerable, that the manner in which the crimes were carried out indicates planning, sophistication, and professionalism, and that Ly took advantage of a position of trust. Ly was arraigned on August 18, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved renaming the Ventura County Family Justice Center in Ventura as the Judge Colleen Toy White Family Justice Center, honoring the late Ventura County Superior Court Judge whose decades of public service transformed how the county supports victims and other vulnerable members of the community.

“Judge Colleen Toy White dedicated her career to making sure victims and vulnerable members of our community had a voice, access to justice and a path toward healing,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said. “The Family Justice Center represents so much of what Judge White stood for and is a lasting reminder of her commitment to compassion, dignity and justice.”

Sixty children from across Ventura County recently gathered at Camp Daley in Calabasas for six days of Camp HOPE, a program designed to give child victims of crime an opportunity to heal, build friendships, and simply be kids.

This year’s camp included 20 children ages 7 to 11 and 40 youth ages 12 to 17. Forty-eight campers were returning participants, demonstrating the lasting connection many children have with the program.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Fernando Juarez Gomez Jr. (DOB 12/09/80), of Oxnard, has been sentenced to six years in state prison for sexual battery against patients who came to him for chiropractic treatment. Gomez was previously convicted by a jury on June 24, 2026, of five felony counts of sexual battery involving four different female victims. The court also found true the aggravating factor that Gomez took advantage of a position of trust while committing the crimes. Gomez also plead guilty to one count of battery against a fifth victim.

“The defendant told these young women that his methods would eliminate their pain and help them achieve their athletic goals,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Twyla Atmore said. “Instead, he touched the most intimate parts of their bodies for his own sexual gratification under the guise of therapeutic treatment. The jury’s verdict and today’s sentence send a clear message that his behavior was unacceptable.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Leonardo Rodriguez (DOB 03/05/05), of Pico Rivera, was sentenced on August 13, 2026, to five years and four months in state prison for his role as the driver in a 2024 crash that killed two people on U.S. 101 in Newbury Park. Rodriguez previously pled guilty on June 25, 2026, to two felony counts of gross vehicular manslaughter for causing the deaths of Serenity Rizkalla and Michael Estrella.

Deputy District Attorney George Brietigam, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office General Trials Unit, prosecuted the case.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced that David Hoetzlein (DOB 06/04/97), of Camarillo, admitted in court today that he strangled and killed his mother, Tomoko Hoetzlein, in their Camarillo home in 2022. However, because of a severe mental disorder that prevented him from having the mental capacity required to be held criminally responsible at the time of the killing, Hoetzlein was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Hoetzlein admitted to second-degree murder of his mother. Two independent doctors evaluated Hoetzlein and each concluded he met the legal criteria for a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors did not object to those opinions based on Hoetzlein’s documented mental health history, the doctors’ reports, and input from Hoetzlein’s family.

“Tomoko Hoetzlein was a devoted mother who did everything in her power to get her son the mental health treatment he desperately needed,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Erin Meister. “Tragically, she lost her life while trying to help him.”