Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Simranjit Singh Sekhon (DOB 01/07/90), of Bakersfield, has been charged with rape of an unconscious person. He is also charged with the aggravating factor of the victim being particularly vulnerable. Today, Sekhon made his first court appearance for arraignment and pled not guilty.

Sekhon, an Uber driver, picked up the victim outside a Thousand Oaks bar at approximately 1:00 a.m. on November 27, 2025, to transport her to her home in Camarillo. The victim, who was intoxicated, fell asleep during the ride. After the trip should have concluded, Sekhon allegedly continued driving the unconscious victim around Camarillo and sexually assaulted her.

He remains in custody with bail set at $500,000.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jose Zavala (DOB 06/13/85), of Fillmore, was sentenced to the maximum of 100 years to life in state prison for the sexual abuse of two minor victims. Zavala was previously convicted by a jury on November 10, 2025, of three counts of lewd acts upon a child and one count of continuous sexual abuse. Several special allegations were also found true, including that he took advantage of a position of trust or confidence and that the victims were particularly vulnerable.

“The imposition of the maximum sentence is warranted by the extreme and horrifying nature of these crimes,” Senior Deputy DA Michael Kern said. “It further sends an unmistakable message that abuse of this kind will not be tolerated in our community.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that a Ventura County jury found Leonardo Palafox (DOB 10/13/88), of Ventura, guilty on December 15, 2025, of three felony and three misdemeanor counts for a violent hit and run. The jury convicted Palafox of felony leaving the scene of an accident, two felony counts of cruelty to an animal, destroying or concealing evidence, and two counts of hit and run driving.

“This case presented a terrible set of circumstances for the victims,” Deputy District Attorney Patrick Benjamin said. “Thanks to the thorough investigation done by the Ventura Police Department and Ventura County Crime Laboratory, we were able to hold the defendant accountable for his actions. I hope the jury’s findings help the victims receive some closure to this tragedy.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that a review conducted by the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (VCSAKI) and the District Attorney’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit has determined that a man convicted more than 40 years ago of a 1982 rape in unincorporated Simi Valley was wrongfully convicted.

Recent DNA testing excluded the wrongfully convicted man, Richard Luna, as the individual responsible for the crime. The results identified a different individual whose DNA matched evidence collected from the victim’s sexual assault kit.

“While we can’t undo the past, we can use the power of DNA technology to exonerate the wrongfully convicted,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “This case underscores our responsibility as prosecutors to examine the integrity of our convictions and seek justice on behalf of those who served time for crimes they never committed.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that a jury has found Sergio Contreras (DOB 01/04/06), of Oxnard, guilty of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, and street terrorism. The jury also found true all special allegations, including causing great bodily injury in the commission of a felony and violent felony street gang activity.

Contreras is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 24 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains in custody with no bail and faces up to 18 years in state prison.