News Releases

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is reminding Ventura County residents to be aware of possible price gouging for essential foods, medicines, household necessities, and housing following the Mountain Fire incident.

“Exploiting those affected by the devastating Mountain Fire for financial gain is illegal and will not be tolerated,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “I encourage anyone who suspects price gouging to report it to our office immediately so we can undertake a review and investigation.”

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that it has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support a specialized prosecution team that handles alcohol and drug impaired driving cases. The grant program runs through September 2025.

This is the thirteenth year the District Attorney’s Office has received funding from the OTS for a specialized DUI prosecution program. Last year, the DUI Unit filed 2,699 DUI cases, including 119 DUI drug cases and 17 DUI combined alcohol and drug cases.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Tekquan Alexander (DOB 10/06/96), of Thousand Oaks, was convicted by a jury of three felony counts for beating his young daughter into a vegetative state. Alexander was convicted of torture, assault on a child causing a comatose condition, and corporal injury to a child. The jury and judge also found true all special allegations and aggravating factors, including the victim being vulnerable, Alexander taking advantage of a position of trust, and causing great bodily injury to a child under five.

“Alani faces a future filled with unimaginable challenges due to the defendant’s reprehensible conduct, but today’s verdict holds him accountable and brings a measure of justice to her and to all those profoundly affected by this case,” said Deputy District Attorney Rikole Kelly, who prosecuted the case.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Steven Wayne Bower (DOB 03/22/70), of Ojai, was sentenced to 55 years to life for child molestation. He was previously convicted by a jury on September 25, 2024, of three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. The jury also found true several special allegations, including Bower engaged in substantial sexual conduct and there being multiple victims.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Manuel Dominguez (DOB 02/28/99), of Santa Maria, was sentenced on November 6, 2024, to 29 years to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Robert Gutierrez. Dominguez previously pled guilty on August 20, 2024, to one count of murder and admitted to the special allegation that he used a firearm.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that the review of the circumstances concerning the April 7, 2023, shooting of Cristian Baltazar-Torres by Oxnard Police Department Officer Jarrod Sheffield has been completed.

The full report is available on the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office website and explains the District Attorney’s conclusions that Officer Sheffield acted reasonably, and the use of deadly force in self-defense was justified.

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Concepcion Espinoza Rivera (DOB 03/21/52), of Oxnard, was sentenced on October 29, 2024, to 12 months probation and 60 days in jail for fraudulently obtaining workers compensation benefits to which she was not entitled. Rivera previously pled no contest on September 12, 2024, to one felony charge of insurance fraud and was found guilty by the court.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Randi Breon Vines (DOB 06/08/90) has been charged with two felony counts of grand theft. At the time of the alleged offenses, Vines was employed as a police officer with the City of Oxnard.

“Police officers are entrusted to protect and serve the community,” District Attorney Nasarenko said. “When that trust is violated, they must be held accountable.”

Vines is accused of using his city-issued fuel card to purchase fuel for his personal vehicle. The purchases are alleged to have occurred between September 2022 and May 2024, totaling over $3,300. Vines is also accused of stealing approximately $1,200 from an arrestee on May 5, 2024. Vines was given possession of the arrestee’s personal property, which included cash, following the arrest of the man by the Oxnard Police Department. Prior to booking the suspect into the Ventura County Jail, Vines is accused of stealing most of the arrestee’s cash from an envelope.

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Jasmine Shante Faniel, (DOB 05/09/85), also known as Teresa Dennis, of Conyers Georgia, was sentenced on October 30, 2024, to nine months in jail, two years formal probation, and ordered to pay victim restitution for her role in a real estate wire fraud scheme.

VENTURA, Calif. – In recent weeks, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office has received reports of county residents being targeted by a specific email scam. The scam is unnerving because the email begins by listing the victim’s name, phone number, home address, and may even include a photo of the victim’s home. The scammers use this tactic to make the victims feel that they have been singled out and to create fear.