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Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Edgar Rodriguez Ruelas (DOB 03/24/82), of Woodland Hills, was sentenced on June 5, 2024, to 32 years to life plus an additional 21 years in state prison, the maximum sentence allowed by law. He was previously convicted by a jury on May 2, 2024, of five felony counts related to assaults on women in their homes or on hiking trails, in Thousand Oaks, and Oak Park. “Thanks to the five brave women who faced Ruelas in court, he will hopefully never be free to attack again,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Brent Nibecker said. “While we cannot replace the sense of security he took, I hope this life sentence delivers the justice they so richly deserve.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Gilbert Villanueva (DOB 11/20/94), of Ventura, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the 2012 murder of 14-year-old Joshua Angel Burciaga. Villanueva pled guilty on May 3, 2024, to one count of first-degree murder. He also admitted to the special allegation that the crime was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

The Ventura County and Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Offices announced today that they have filed a civil case against The Kroger Co. in Santa Barbara Superior Court alleging violations of California’s false advertising and unfair competition laws. Kroger operates numerous grocery stores in California under familiar names such as Ralph’s, Food 4 Less, and Foods Co. The complaint alleges that Kroger falsely advertised the calorie content of its Carbmaster bread products, from approximately November 2018, to at least June 2022. During that time, Kroger prominently advertised on the front packaging of Carbmaster Wheat and Carbmaster White breads that they contained 30 calories per slice, when in fact they are alleged to have contained 50 calories or more.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Barry Don Fike (DOB 09/05/55), of Fillmore, pled guilty on May 29, 2024, to two felony counts: sending harmful matter to a child, and arranging a meeting with a minor for a lewd purpose. Fike was a minister at Fillmore Church of Christ, and previously taught at Oaks Christian High School and Pepperdine University.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Tyreema Brown (DOB 12/30/83), of Thousand Oaks, pled guilty on May 29, 2024, to one felony count of automobile insurance fraud. Automobile insurance fraud is punishable by up to five years in county jail and a fine up to $50,000, or double the amount of fraud, whichever is greater.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Evan Ross Avery (DOB 06/09/88), of Los Angeles, Eric Thaichareon (DOB 08/10/77), of Los Angeles, Michael Alexander Romano (DOB 01/09/90), of Panorama City, and Max Jordan Maynard (DOB 07/13/98), of Simi Valley, have been charged with several felonies related to an illicit gambling operation run out of a residence in Simi Valley. All four defendants are charged with three counts of pimping, three counts of pandering prostitution, and one count of bookmaking. Avery and Thaichareon also face an additional charge for money laundering. Each count has a special allegation that the manner in which the crime was carried out indicates planning, sophistication, and professionalism. All four defendants pled not guilty at today’s arraignment.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that the review of the circumstances concerning the March 12, 2023, shooting of Adam Barcenas by Oxnard Police Department Officer Shayn Schwartz has been completed. The full report is available on the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office website and explains the District Attorney’s conclusions that Officer Schwartz acted reasonably, and the use of deadly force in self-defense was justified.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that the review of the circumstances concerning the April 28, 2022, shooting of Derrick Padilla by Simi Valley Police Department Senior Officer David Maupin and Officer Daniel Stradling has been completed. The full report is available on the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office website and explains the District Attorney’s conclusions that Senior Officer Maupin and Officer Stradling acted reasonably, and their use of deadly force in self-defense was justified.

The Ventura County Family Justice Center (FJC), a program and services administered by the District Attorney’s Office, was the recipient of $1.66 million secured by Congressman Salud Carbajal in the federal budget. The federal funding will expand services at the Ventura FJC location by increasing the number of domestic violence shelter beds once the new Emergency Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Housing project is completed. Currently, only 24 emergency shelter beds exist in Ventura County. This new project will bring up to 18 additional beds to the county.