News Releases

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Daniel Montano (DOB 02/15/94), of Camarillo, was sentenced to 180 days jail, placed on formal probation for two years, and ordered to pay $102,366 in victim restitution. Montano had previously pled guilty on August 2, 2023, to four felony counts of forgery.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that on October 6, 2023, Ana Jasmine Vaca-Velazquez (DOB 03/13/86), of Moorpark, pled guilty to one count of felony 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 Jacob Jamal Steir (DOB 06/19/97), of Oxnard, was sentenced to 27 years prison for his actions in a 2017 shooting that killed Alexis Jean Lopez and injured one other. Steir previously pled guilty on August 10, 2023, to voluntary manslaughter.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Brian Andrew Hynes (DOB 06/12/80), of Thousand Oaks, was convicted by a jury of one count of felony grand theft after spending money meant for the Oak Heart County Music Festival.
Hynes, the principal owner of the Borderline Bar & Grill, partnered with Westlake Rotary to put on the annual charity music festival in 2020. The festival was canceled due to COVID. Hynes proceeded to misappropriate the refunded deposit for musical acts in the amount of $43,750.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Victor Villanueva Legaria (DOB 06/13/90), of Oxnard, was sentenced to 10 years 8 months prison, the maximum possible sentence. Legaria was previously convicted by a jury on July 20, 2023, of two felony counts of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14, and one felony count of lewd acts on a child aged 14 or 15.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that on October 2, 2023, Natasha Monique Villegas (DOB 03/19/84), of Oxnard, pled guilty to one count of felony automobile insurance fraud.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As part of our ongoing commitment to serving victims of domestic violence, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office applied for and was selected to receive a Violence Against Women Vertical Prosecution Grant from the California Office of Emergency Services. The $202,545 grant will fund efforts to prosecute domestic violence cases. It will also help continue efforts to connect victims with resources at the Ventura County Family Justice Center, located in Ventura and at a future second site under development in Oxnard.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Richard Hernandez (DOB 02/18/96), of Ventura, was sentenced to 32 years 8 months to life for a deadly 2016 gang shooting. Hernandez had previously pled guilty on May 1, 2023, to second-degree murder for the death of Oxnard resident Cameron Miller. He also pled guilty to attempted murder and evading an officer. Hernandez admitted to special allegations including gang enhancements.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that on September 25, 2023, Diego Galvan (DOB 09/09/86), of Oxnard, pled guilty to one count of reckless driving while evading a peace officer and one count of insurance fraud. Both are felonies.

The $640,000 grant will fund bilingual Spanish-speaking victim advocates, a legal processing assistant, administrative assistant, and necessary equipment at the new 545-555 South A Street location from October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2025. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved acceptance of the grant today.