Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Efran Esau Flores Alvarez (DOB 04/20/06), of Los Angeles, has been charged with nine felony counts of grand theft for allegedly participating in a series of catalytic converter thefts throughout Ventura County. Alvarez was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on May 21, 2026, and pled not guilty to all charges.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Ramon Joseph Rivas (DOB 02/17/90), of Simi Valley, pled guilty on May 20, 2026, to second-degree murder for the stabbing death of his girlfriend, Jessica Marie Tinoco. Rivas also admitted all special allegations and aggravating factors, including use of a deadly weapon, the crime involving great violence, the victim being particularly vulnerable, and strike priors.

Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Homicides Unit, is prosecuting the case.

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jose Antonio Jimenez (DOB 01/08/94), of Oxnard, was arraigned on May 20, 2026, for the 2014 killing of Labh Nigah. Jimenez is charged with one count of murder and three special allegations: personally using a knife in the commission of the offense, that the killing involved great violence, and the victim was particularly vulnerable. He pled not guilty to all charges and special allegations.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Mysti Lee Ary (DOB 01/29/77), of Bakersfield, has been held to answer on felony fleeing the scene of an accident causing permanent, serious injury for a June 15, 2025, accident along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). On May 11, 2026, following a one-day preliminary hearing, the court found sufficient evidence to hold Ary to answer on the felony count.

Deputy District Attorney Jordan Pitcher, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office General Trials Unit, is prosecuting the case.

“Our thoughts remain with the victim, whose life was permanently impacted by this incident,” said Mr. Pitcher. “Drivers have a responsibility to stop, render aid, and take accountability when someone is seriously injured on our roadways.”

After years of coordinated investigative and forensic work, the Ventura County Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (VCSAKI) has now tested more than 2,000 sexual assault kits from agencies throughout Ventura County.

To date, 2,038 sexual assault kits have been tested from an inventory of 2,846 kits countywide dating back to the 1970s. While many of these kits were tested using technologies available at the time, they are now being tested using advanced DNA testing. Through the dedicated efforts of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Forensic Services Bureau, the initiative has uploaded 923 DNA profiles into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which has generated 329 CODIS hits connected to potential suspects or linked cases. VCSAKI investigators and prosecutors have investigated and closed 125 cases and notified 21 victims that their case was solved due to advancements in DNA testing.