District Attorney Erik Nasarenko had the BEST DAY EVER reading to preschoolers at Easterseals in Ventura. Thank you to the students and First 5 Ventura for making it such a memorable morning.
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Special shoutout to Chief Investigator Scott Whitney for being the Llama Llama puppet. 🦙 🦙
Deputy District Attorney Katherine Plante spoke this week on a panel of experts at the 2026 National Cybercrime Conference, addressing “Hot Topics for Prosecutors.”
The discussion ...focused on emerging digital threats and the evolving strategies prosecutors are using to stay ahead in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.
Way to go, Kat! 👏
Throughout April, blue pinwheels have been displayed as a symbol of Child Abuse Awareness Month. The pinwheel represents the safe, happy childhood every child deserves.
The DA’s Safe ...Harbor Multidisciplinary Center, a nationally accredited Child Advocacy Center, partnered with Childhood Matters Wellness Center to bring the community together in creating a “Garden of Protection.” Each pinwheel serves as a visual reminder of the collective commitment shared by law enforcement, mental health professionals, and child protective services to protect children and give them a voice.
While April may be coming to an end, the message behind the pinwheels continues year-round: protecting children is a responsibility we all share.
NEWS RELEASE:
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Javier Gomez (DOB 11/22/05), of Thousand Oaks, pled guilty on April 27, 2026, in Ventura County Superior Court for a ...racially-motivated baseball bat attack on an African American man. Gomez pled guilty to one felony count of assault with a deadly weapon. He also admitted all aggravating factors and charged special allegations, including the gang allegation, hate crime allegation and causing great bodily injury.
“The victim and his wife showed tremendous courage by testifying at the preliminary hearing and confronting hate head on,” District Attorney Nasarenko said. “Our community will not tolerate hate-fueled violence or gang-related intimidation.”
Gomez is scheduled to be sentenced on May 26, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He is expected to be sentenced to five years in state prison.
READ MORE: https://da.venturacounty.gov/2026/04/thousand-oaks-gang-member-pleads-guilty-to-baseball-bat-assault-hate-crime
NEWS RELEASE:
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that David Lane Braff Jr. (DOB 05/28/82), of Thousand Oaks, has been held to answer on all charges following a preliminary hearing ...in Ventura County Superior Court. The judge found sufficient evidence for Braff to stand trial on 33 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, related to 15 victims. The charges carry special allegations that Braff committed offenses against multiple victims, took advantage of a position of trust, targeted particularly vulnerable victims, and committed the crimes with planning and sophistication.
READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4tGbF8I
This #NationalSuperheroDay, we’re celebrating some of Ventura County’s most loyal heroes, our Courthouse Dogs Star, Comet and Trakr. 🐾🦸
These four-legged superheroes provide ...comfort, courage and support to crime victims, especially children, while helping bring compassion into the justice process.
They may not wear capes every day, but they show up as heroes every day. Thanks to Chat GPT for the SUPER comic book cover.
Project LEAD was in action at Rio Del Norte Elementary in Oxnard! 🏍️
Fifth grade students in Mr. Muller’s and Mr. Almstrom’s classes welcomed the Oxnard Police Department Motors ...Unit for a hands-on visit featuring police motorcycles and LIDAR (speed gun) technology.
Experiences like these bring Project LEAD lessons to life and build positive connections between students and law enforcement.
Thank you to OPD Motors and our Ventura County District Attorney’s Office volunteers who support these classrooms each week and help make Project LEAD possible. #ProjectLEAD #VenturaCountyDA
A powerful day of partnership, progress, and hope.
This April’s ribbon cutting marked the opening of a new domestic violence shelter at the Ventura County Family Justice Center, expanding... safety and support for survivors in our community. This new shelter adds 10 safe spaces with 24/7 support and immediate access to critical services, all in one place.
Thank you to Congressman Salud Carbajal, our partners at Coalition for Family Harmony, County of Ventura, Ventura County Community Foundation and all who joined us for this important milestone.
Together, we are strengthening support for survivors and building safer futures.