News Releases

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Gary Steven Daniel II (DOB 09/21/78), of Oxnard, was sentenced on February 17, 2026, to seven years, four months in state prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He had pleaded guilty on January 15, 2026, in two cases involving CSAM possession. These convictions included admissions that he had previously been convicted of possessing CSAM, was a California sexual offender registrant, and had been released on bail when the second crime occurred.

“Since 2015, Mr. Daniel became increasingly sophisticated in his quest to obtain CSAM,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Wise said. “However, the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Unit of our Bureau of Investigation was one step ahead to bring Mr. Daniel to justice.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jason Randall Eil (DOB 03/13/85), of Thousand Oaks, was sentenced to 8 years in state prison for embezzlement. Eil previously pleaded guilty on December 30, 2025, to seven counts of grand theft. He also admitted several special allegations, including the aggravated white collar crime enhancement for a fraudulent scheme involving a taking of more than $500,000, an admission that he took advantage of a position of trust to commit the crimes, and an admission that his crimes involved planning, sophistication, and professionalism.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Marisol Flores (DOB 09/11/95), of Oxnard, has been charged with murder for the death of her newborn baby. She also faces an additional charge of assault on a child causing death.

On February 8, 2026, Flores is believed to have given birth to a child in a homeless encampment along West Vineyard Avenue in Oxnard. Witnesses reported seeing Flores still pregnant the day before. When they saw her again on February 8, she was no longer pregnant, and the newborn was not with her.

Flores is accused of killing the infant shortly after giving birth. The baby’s body was discovered within the encampment and showed visible signs of blunt force trauma.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Martin Herrejon Vieyra (DOB 11/06/67), of Santa Paula, has been sentenced to 110 years to life, plus eight years for rape and child molestation involving multiple victims over several decades. Vieyra was previously convicted by a jury on January 12, 2026. The jury found him guilty of eight felony charges: rape by force, foreign object penetration, and six counts of lewd acts upon a child.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Stuart Gardner, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Unit, prosecuted the case.

“While no punishment can undo the trauma inflicted, today’s lengthy sentence sends a clear message: those who prey on children will be prosecuted and held fully responsible for their actions,” Mr. Gardner said. “Our office will continue to stand with victims and work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that    Sergio Contreras (DOB 01/04/06), of Oxnard, was sentenced to 16 years in state prison for assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, and street terrorism. He was previously convicted by a jury on December 10, 2025.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Lauren Malan, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Gangs Unit, prosecuted the case.

“This was a gang-motivated attack that could have easily resulted in a loss of life,” Ms. Malan said. “The defendant’s actions demonstrate the extreme danger gang violence poses to our community, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of that conduct and our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable.”

The Ventura County Family Justice Center (VCFJC) has received a boost in its ability to help victims and survivors reach safety and support. The VCFJC was selected as one of only 15 Family Justice Centers in the nation to receive $10,000 in Uber for Business credits through Hope Rides, a new partnership between Alliance for HOPE International and Uber aimed at eliminating transportation barriers for those experiencing violence or abuse.

“Reliable transportation should never stand between a survivor and safety,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Brent Nibecker, who oversees the VCFJC. “This generous award ensures victims can access the trauma-informed services they need, whether it’s assistance in seeking a restraining order, legal support, or emergency resources. We are deeply grateful to Alliance for HOPE International and Uber for recognizing this critical need and investing in our community.”

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Mysti Lee Ary (DOB 01/29/77), of Bakersfield, has been charged with felony fleeing the scene of an accident causing permanent, serious injury for a June 15, 2025, accident along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Ary made her first court appearance today in Ventura County Superior Court where she pled not guilty.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that a 17-year-old juvenile has been charged with Penal Code section 422.3(a), a new criminal threats law that took effect on January 1, 2026. The charge stems from a threat to carry out a school shooting at R.J. Frank Academy Middle School in Oxnard.

Penal Code section 422.3(a) makes it a crime to threaten death or great bodily injury to people at schools, daycare centers, workplaces, houses of worship, or medical facilities, including threats made by phone calls, text messages, images, or online posts. The law was created to allow law enforcement to intervene when threats cause fear and disruption, even if no weapon is ultimately found. While similar to the existing criminal threat statute, it differs in that the threat may be made towards a location and need not be made to a specific person.

“This new law gives law enforcement and prosecutors an important tool to address credible threats before violence occurs,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “Threats against schools will always be taken seriously, and early intervention is critical to keeping our students and educators safe.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Thomas James Syslo (DOB 05/19/92), of Torrence, was charged with murder for the 2023 fatal fentanyl overdose of Freddy Dijor in Thousand Oaks. Syslo also faces felony charges for possession of fentanyl for sale and two counts of money laundering. He made his first appearance on January 26, 2026, in Ventura County Superior Court and pled not guilty to all charges.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Christian Octavio Arreola (DOB 01/16/94), of Port Hueneme, has been charged with multiple felonies stemming from a violent attack on a Port Hueneme police officer earlier this month.

Arreola is charged with attempted murder, assault upon a peace officer, battery with injury on a peace officer, and resisting an executive officer. The complaint further alleges that the crime involved great violence, that Arreola was armed with and used a weapon, and includes a special allegation related to the attempted murder of a peace officer.

“This was an attack on a police officer who was responding to a mental health crisis and attempting to protect both the individual involved and the community,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “Violence against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated, and my office will aggressively prosecute those who commit these dangerous crimes.”