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
Please join us in welcoming our newest District Attorney Investigators, Ryan Carey and Matt Maxwell, who were sworn in today by Chief Investigator Scott Whitney!
Ryan brings 25 years of ...experience with the Oxnard Police Department, while Matt joins us after a decade with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, including more than seven years as a Major Crimes Detective.
We’re proud to welcome Ryan and Matt to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office!
Standing with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office and all those affected by this senseless act of violence. Keeping the injured prosecutor, their loved ones, and colleagues in our thoughts.
Please join us in congratulating Senior Deputy District Attorney Tom Steele on 16 years of dedicated service to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
Tom has made a lasting impact... through his commitment to justice and the people of Ventura County. We are grateful for his years of service and contributions to our office.
Congratulations, Tom, and best wishes in your next endeavor!
NEWS RELEASE:
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved renaming the Ventura County Family Justice Center in Ventura as the Judge Colleen Toy White Family Justice Center, ...honoring the late Ventura County Superior Court Judge whose decades of public service transformed how the county supports victims and other vulnerable members of the community.
"Judge Colleen Toy White dedicated her career to making sure victims and vulnerable members of our community had a voice, access to justice and a path toward healing,” District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said. “The Family Justice Center represents so much of what Judge White stood for and is a lasting reminder of her commitment to compassion, dignity and justice.”
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4qyS1Lq
This week, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously honored the legacy of Judge Colleen Toy White by renaming the Ventura County Family Justice Center in Ventura in her memory.
...Judge White dedicated 41 years to public service and championed victims, vulnerable communities, and access to justice. Now, her name will stand alongside a center that carries forward that same mission.
The Judge Colleen Toy White Family Justice Center. A lasting legacy of compassion, dignity and justice.