NEWS RELEASE:
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Armando Liborio De La Mora (DOB 10/11/93), of Oxnard, was sentenced on August 25, 2026, to 365 days in Ventura ...County Jail and domestic violence probation after pleading guilty to five domestic violence charges. De La Mora previously pled guilty on June 18, 2026, to two felony counts of inflicting corporal injury on a girlfriend, one felony count of false imprisonment by violence, and misdemeanor counts of disobeying a domestic relations court order and violating a protective order. De La Mora also admitted to three aggravating circumstances for each of the felony counts, including the crime involved great violence, the victim was particularly vulnerable, and De La Mora engaged in violent conduct that indicates a serious danger to society.
“This was a serious and traumatic attack that will have a lasting effect on the victim,” said Deputy District Attorney Hyla Schneir. “She showed tremendous courage throughout this process, and we will continue to advocate for the safety and protection of domestic violence victims.”
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/3UpPaIy
Communication professionals from across Ventura County gathered at the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office today for a quarterly meeting, sharing ideas, exchanging best practices and ...exploring powerful ways to better communicate with the public.
A special thank you to County PIOs Natalie Hernandez and Diana Guevara for organizing these quarterly meetings and creating opportunities for communications professionals across the county to learn from one another.
Today’s meeting included training on producing video news releases, giving Public Information Officers practical tools to tell their agencies’ stories in a compelling and effective way.
And of course, Star and Comet, our courthouse dogs, were on hand to serve as some pretty awesome greeters! 🐾
Congratulations to Senior Deputy District Attorney Michelle Contois on her retirement after an extraordinary 32-year career with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office!
For the last... 26 years, Michelle served in our Writs and Appeals Unit, sharing her exceptional legal and institutional knowledge with generations of attorneys. Her distinguished career also includes appearing before the United States Supreme Court, not once but twice.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Lisa Lyytikainen and Chief Deputy District Attorney Rachelle Dean presented Michelle with her retirement plaque in recognition of her dedicated service.
We will miss Michelle’s expertise and presence, but we’re excited for her next chapter.
Congratulations, Michelle, and best wishes for a well-deserved retirement! 🎉
NEWS RELEASE:
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that David Johnson (DOB 03/17/68), of Ojai, has been charged with six felony counts of child molestation against ...multiple victims. He faces four counts of lewd acts upon a child and two counts of continuous sexual abuse along with the special allegations of substantial sexual conduct and the victims being under 14 years old. Johnson was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court and pled not guilty to all charges.
Johnson, who worked as both a pastor and massage therapist, is accused of molesting two children under the age of 14. The abuse is alleged to have happened over several years at locations in Ojai and Oxnard. He had access to the children through a familial relationship.
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4gmJebX
Amazing time meeting so many potential future Ventura County employees. The County has so much to offer and the Career Resource & Expo is a great way to show that off.
Thanks to ...everyone who stopped by the District Attorney’s Office booth! 😃
NEWS RELEASE:
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Samuel Matthew Rocha (DOB 01/25/93), of Port Hueneme, pled guilty on August 24, 2026, to second-degree murder in the death of ...Pedro Valdez. Rocha had previously been convicted by a jury in April of four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and two counts of battery. The jury was unable to reach verdicts on the remaining counts. The jury found the special allegation of causing great bodily injury in commission of a felony to be true. Now, four months later, Rocha pled guilty to murder and admitted to using his car as a deadly weapon.
“Rocha made the deliberate decision to use his vehicle as a weapon, killing 16-year-old Pedro Valdez and injuring four other young bicyclists,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Richard Simon said. “This conviction holds him accountable and brings a measure of justice to Pedro, his family, and the other victims.”
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4gU6yxO
Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick recently presented a Ventura County cold case homicide at the 2026 California Homicide Investigators’ Association annual conference in Las Vegas.
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Alongside Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Gerardo Cruz and Erik Hernandez, John shared with hundreds of homicide investigators from across California how a 20-year-old murder investigation was ultimately solved and the two killers brought to justice.
We’re proud to see our prosecutors and investigators sharing their experience and helping advance the pursuit of justice.
NEWS RELEASE:
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Omar Romo (12/17/88), of Oxnard, was convicted by a jury of the murder of Oscar Rodriguez. Romo was found ...guilty of murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon. Multiple charged special allegations and aggravating factors were found true, including personal and intentional discharge of a firearm, that Romo was on parole when the crime was committed and strike priors.
“Oscar Rodriguez lost his life to senseless street violence,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Hayley Moyer said. “There is no place for using a firearm to resolve conflicts and this conviction holds the defendant accountable for that choice.”
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/45S3X19
NEWS RELEASE:
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that William Bao Khoa Ly (DOB 02/06/00), of Simi Valley, has been charged with stealing nearly $100,000 from an ...89-year-old Thousand Oaks man whom he had befriended. Ly is charged with felony counts of theft from an elder or dependent adult, grand theft, and unauthorized use of personal identifying information. The charges include aggravating factors that the victim was particularly vulnerable, that the manner in which the crimes were carried out indicates planning, sophistication, and professionalism, and that Ly took advantage of a position of trust. Ly was arraigned on August 18, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4xn4mos