News Releases

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.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Anthony Nardini (DOB 09/30/80), of Bakersfield, was convicted of three felony counts including attempted murder after beating his sleeping 24-year-old son with a sledgehammer.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Rodolfo Martinez-Guevara (DOB 07/11/85), a priest in the Archdioceses of Los Angeles, has been charged with felony possession of child pornography. It is further alleged that Martinez-Guevara possessed over 600 images of child sexual abuse material, including images and videos of prepubescent minors under the age of 12.

A member of the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, Martinez-Guevara is associated with several churches, including Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Oxnard.

In an effort to promote firearm safety and protect children and schools from gun-related incidents, a coalition of Ventura County law enforcement agencies and educational leaders have launched a new public service announcement (PSA). The PSA, titled “Gun Safe Storage: It’s The Law,” aims to raise awareness about the importance of secure gun storage and responsible firearms ownership as children return to school. It is also in recognition of National Suicide Prevention Month.