News Releases

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jose Luis Meza Jr. (DOB 10/30/90), of Oxnard, has been charged with multiple sexual assault crimes related to an attack that occurred in 2020. Meza is charged with committing acts of forcible oral copulation, sexual battery by restraint, and assault with intent to commit forcible sexually motivated crimes. It is also alleged that Meza is eligible for sentencing under California’s Three Strikes Law. Meza pled not guilty at yesterday’s arraignment.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jameson Paul Johnson (DOB 11/12/82), a transient from Ventura, was sentenced on August 12, 2024, to 62 years to life in state prison for the sexual abuse and rape of a child. Johnson was previously convicted by a jury on March 1, 2024, of 13 felony counts, including six counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child, six counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and one count of forcible rape. The jury and judge also found true special allegations and enhancements connected to various counts, including allegations that the crimes involved great violence, the victim was particularly vulnerable, and Johnson engaged in substantial sexual conduct with the victim.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jesus Andrew Sapien (DOB 12/20/79), of Port Hueneme, was convicted by a jury of 13 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. The jury also found true all aggravating circumstances and special allegations, including the three victims were under the age of 14, they were vulnerable, that Sapien engaged in substantial sexual conduct, and that he took advantage of a position of trust.

“I commend the victims for their extraordinary courage in standing up to their abuser and telling the truth,” Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Moreno said. “Their unwavering bravery has led to justice being served today.”

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Michael Ortega (DOB 03/05/00), of Oxnard, was convicted by a jury on August 9, 2024, of murdering John Paul Carrillo. The jury also found Ortega guilty of multiple gun charges, including felony possession of a gun with methamphetamine, felony possession of a gun by a felon, and felony possession of a sawed-off shotgun.

“Hopefully, the verdict brings some form of solace to the family who lost their grandson to a group of men intent on enforcing territory claimed by a gang,” Ms. Pollara said. “The jury very carefully deliberated before returning verdicts reflecting the culpability of the defendant.”

August 8, 2024, news conference on the Warren Luther Alexander case from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators from the Ventura County Cold Case Unit have arrested       Warren Luther Alexander (DOB 01/12/51), of Diamondhead, Mississippi, on three counts of murder, related to a series of strangulation murders that occurred in 1977. The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed three counts of first-degree murder against Alexander. He was extradited to California and arrived on August 6, 2024, from Surry County, North Carolina, where he is awaiting prosecution for a 1992 cold case murder committed in that jurisdiction.

Alexander’s first appearance in Ventura County Superior Court on August 7, 2024. The arraignment was continued to August 21, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 11. He is being held in Ventura County Jail without bail.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Omar Cruz-Hernandez (DOB 07/02/85), of Oxnard, was convicted by a jury on August 2, 2024, of seven felony counts of child sexual abuse. The convictions included felony counts of forcible rape, engaging in sexual intercourse with a child under ten, committing lewd and lascivious acts upon a child, and continuous sexual abuse of a child. The jury also found true the allegation that Cruz-Hernandez sexually assaulted multiple victims.
Cruz-Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 28, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 25 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He faces a potential sentence of 150 years and 8 months to life in prison. He remains in custody without bail.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has been selected to receive $220,000 in California grant funding to assist in establishing an East County Family Justice Center (FJC). Funding was awarded by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Emerging Family Justice Center Grant Program.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Makare Darnell Toliver (DOB 04/07/2003), of Lancaster, has been charged with two counts of robbery with a gun and evading a police officer causing death. Toliver is also charged with three additional felonies related to his conduct.