News Releases

Today Jaime Villarreal (DOB 08/21/76), of Oxnard, was convicted by a Ventura County jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and possession of a short-barreled shotgun. The jury found Villarreal not guilty of murder or voluntary manslaughter in the death of Raymond Delval.

“Although we are disappointed with the decision, we respect the process and the jury’s verdict,” said Spillner. “We felt strongly that every victim deserves justice; ultimately, the jury decided the defendant was acting in self-defense.”

Villarreal is scheduled to be sentenced on July 6, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 47 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

The County of Ventura and Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol and Caltrans, are proud to announce the successful completion of a parking lot project aimed at curbing illegal drag racing, donuts, and other unlawful activities that pose a risk to public safety.

Sheriff Jim Fryhoff and District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today the launch of a new website for the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative. At VCSAKI.com the public can learn about this important initiative and track the multi-agency effort to test untested sexual assault kits. The site also provides victims with the ability to contact a member of the District Attorney’s Office who can assist them in determining the status of their own sexual assault kit or obtain resources vital to their healing process.

The Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (VCSAKI) is a countywide initiative to submit every untested sexual assault kit for DNA testing, investigate unsolved sexual assault cases, and prosecute offenders. In December 2021, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Forensic Services Bureau was awarded a $2.5 million grant from the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance to support this effort. The Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices are joined in this effort by every local law enforcement agency in the county, the Ventura County Health Care Agency, and the Coalition for Family Harmony.

Local law enforcement agencies and the Sheriff’s Forensic Services Bureau are in the final stages of inventorying all untested sexual assault kits which includes reviewing police reports and other records related to those crimes. When the inventory is complete, the VCSAKI partners anticipate submitting approximately 3,000 untested sexual assault kits for testing.

“Testing approximately 3,000 sexual assault kits dating back to the late 1970’s is a daunting task, but we owe it to the victims of these heinous crimes to do everything we can to attempt to hold their offenders accountable,” said Sheriff Fryhoff.

“Testing each and every kit is the right thing to do,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “It promotes public trust between law enforcement and the victims we serve, and it marks a significant step forward in our commitment to seeking long-awaited justice for survivors of sexual assault.”

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that charges were filed against, Lathanial Lavar Walker (DOB 02/26/97), for the attempt kidnapping for rape of a 75-year-old woman while she worked in her garden. On May 26, 2023, Walker pled not guilty at arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court.

On the morning of May 24, 2023, Walker is alleged to have approached the victim on South Dunning Street in Ventura. Walker is accused of pulling down his pants and grabbing the victim from behind. The victim struggled with Walker as he allegedly dragged her to the side of her home and attempted to take her inside before neighbors came to assist her.

Walker fled the area on foot and was arrested a short time later in the Pacific View Mall parking lot by the Ventura Police Department.

Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Unit, is the prosecutor assigned to the case.

Walker is scheduled for an early disposition conference on June 7, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He is being held in custody without bail.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Probation Agency and Interface Children & Family Services are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the inaugural Restorative Justice Conferencing, for 10 graduates. The program, titled Transforming Harm to Healing, kicked off in July 2022, and is available for non-violent offenders, ages 12 through 21.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with Merced District Attorney Nicole Silveira, Ventura District Attorney Erik Nasarenko, and Yolo District Attorney Jeff Reisig, today announced a settlement against Walmart over allegations that illegal weapons — specifically brass knuckles — were sold to California consumers by Walmart and by third-party sellers through Walmart’s website. As part of the settlement, Walmart will pay $500,000 and be required to prevent the sale of illegal weapons, including by third parties, on its website. Today’s announcement is the result of an investigation conducted by the California Department of Justice in partnership with the District Attorney’s Offices of Merced, Ventura, and Yolo Counties.

“It was too easy for our investigators to make online purchases of illegal brass knuckles,” said Ventura District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “Walmart, and other retailers need to take a hard look at their online sales practices and ensure that they are in compliance with California law.”

Under California law, brass knuckles are classified as a deadly weapon. Offering or exposing for sale brass knuckles is a violation of Penal Code section 21810 and is punishable by imprisonment up to one year. In addition, the offering or exposing for sale of metal knuckles and other dangerous weapons in violation of applicable Penal Code sections violates the unlawful prong of the Unfair Competition Law, Business and Professions Code sections 17200.

Read the full news release here: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-and-district-attorneys-merced-ventura-and-yolo-counties

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Shawn Michael Shirck (DOB 02/23/94), of Ojai, was convicted by jury of two counts of involuntary manslaughter for the 2019 deaths of Margaret Dahl of Oak View, and Phyllis Porter of Georgia. The jury also found true the special allegations that Shirck used a knife to commit the crimes.

In 2019, Ms. Porter, age 82, was on an extended visit with her daughter, Ms. Dahl, age 59, at Ms. Dahl’s home on Valley Ridge Street in Oak View. Ms. Dahl had been in a long-term relationship with the homeowner, and cared for the house when he was away. The homeowner had four sons, including Shawn Shirck. Shirck previously lived in the residence with Ms. Dahl but had moved out weeks earlier.

Shortly after midnight on August 24, 2019, Shirck violently attacked and killed the two victims with a knife, in the home on Valley Ridge Street. The victims were discovered the morning of August 24. One of Shirck’s brothers came to the home and discovered a shattered glass door and the victims inside.

Shirck was arrested by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office on August 25, 2019.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Nguyen, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Homicide Unit, was the prosecutor who handled the case.
Shirk is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 48 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that Austin Allen Eis (DOB 05/29/98), of Camarillo, pled not guilty today to 24 counts, including murder for the death of 15-year-old Wesley W. of Thousand Oaks. Prior to today’s arraignment, 12 additional counts were added to the charges filed against Eis.

On April 18, 2023, a series of criminal acts were allegedly carried out by Eis in Ventura County. Eis is alleged to have entered a Simi Valley Walmart, where he used pepper spray and stabbed one employee, physically assaulted and attempted to drag a second employee, and lunged at two additional employees with a knife. After leaving Walmart, Eis is alleged to have fled to a residence in Camarillo and forced his way inside the home. Eis left Camarillo and is accused of driving his vehicle to Thousand Oaks where he intentionally targeted and struck high school students outside of Westlake High School. Wesley W. and three other students were hit. Several other students were narrowly missed by the car.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Amber Lee, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Homicide Unit, is the prosecutor assigned to the case.

Eis is scheduled to appear in court July 19, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He is being held in custody without bail.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that a $75,000 judgment was ordered against Watkins Cattle Company over false advertising of their meat products.

The civil case, filed in Ventura County Superior Court, centered around beef advertisements claiming to be “from our pasture to your plate.” The meat in many cases did not come from local pastures and was purchased from third parties out of county and out of state. Watkins Cattle Company also misrepresented to customers the amount of acreage they owned or leased.

“False advertising isn’t just a violation of consumer trust, it’s a betrayal of hardworking farmers and ranchers who actually put in the time and effort to raise their livestock locally,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Karen Wold, a member of the District Attorney’s Office Consumer Protection Unit. “When companies choose to misrepresent their products, they not only deceive their customers, but they also cheat the very people who provide the backbone of our food system.”

Watkins Cattle Company will pay $75,000 made payable under the California Unlawful Competition Law and pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 17206. The money will be allocated to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office as follows:
• $50,000 to civil penalties and placed in the Consumer Protection Trust Fund account for the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office to enforce laws protecting the public against unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business practices and deceptive advertising.
• $25,000 will be used to cover the investigative costs incurred by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Payment of the $75,000 will be made in six installment payments beginning on or before June 1, 2023, and concluding by February 1, 2025.

On May 16, 2023, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced that Raquel Villarreal (DOB 03/21/87), was sentenced in Ventura County Superior Court to 3 years 4 months in state prison. Villarreal had previously pled guilty on April 11, 2023, to charges in three separate felony cases.

On November 29, 2021, Villarreal violated a restraining order and confronted her ex-husband at their daughter’s school in Oxnard. Villarreal got into an argument with her ex-husband and struck him several times in the arm with a cane, while also hitting the truck window frame. Villarreal left the scene, and the victim called the police. Two Oxnard Police Department officers were able to contact Villarreal later that day and attempted to arrest her for domestic violence and for violating a restraining order. Villarreal resisted arrest and began to struggle with the officers. She kicked them several times in the lower body before the officers were able to secure her in handcuffs.

The next day, while in custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility, Villarreal was uncuffed for fingerprint processing. Without warning, Villarreal struck a processing deputy in the face several times before the deputy could respond and other jail staff intervened.

Fifteen months later, while in custody for the previous violent assaults, Villarreal attacked another inmate. On February 20, 2023, Villarreal was unprovoked in her assault on the female inmate. Villarreal punched, stomped, and slammed the inmates head against the floor before deputies entered the locked section and removed Villarreal.

Deputy District Attorney Hayley Moyer, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crime Unit, prosecuted the cases.

“The defendant’s actions over the course of these three cases can only be described as a pattern of unpredictable, aggressive, and violent behavior, both in and out of custody,” DDA Moyer said. “The sentence today ensures that all crime victims receive justice under the law.”