May 7, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on May 4, 2012, the Ventura County Grand Jury indicted Joshua Graham Packer (DOB 9-21-89), of Ventura, on additional charges relative to the Faria Beach murders that occurred on May 20, 2009. 

May 7, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Salvador Tena (DOB 8-6-55), of Oxnard, was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles Campbell to 16 years to life in prison.

May 1, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on April 30, 2012, Mona Kim Alberti (09/14/60) pled guilty to a felony violation of Insurance Code section 1871.4. This case was investigated by the Ventura County District Attorney's Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud Unit.

April 30, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that his office has filed and settled a civil law enforcement action against Ladco Financial Group, Inc., of Thousand Oaks, and Elavon, Inc., of Atlanta.

April 27, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on April 26, 2012, Charles Saab (DOB 8/30/71) pled guilty to one felony count of defrauding an insurer, in violation of California Penal Code section 548(a), and one misdemeanor count of filing a false police report, in violation of Penal Code section 148.5(a). The case was investigated by the Simi Valley Police Department.

April 20, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office will commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week with a ceremony and march on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.

April 18, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the public integrity investigation regarding Oxnard city officials and the issuance of a public report.

April 18, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that his office, together with 43 other California District Attorneys and the City Attorneys in San Diego and Los Angeles, has filed and settled a civil law enforcement action in Ventura County Superior Court against CVS Pharmacy, Inc.

April 12, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on April 11, 2012, Ventura County Superior Court Judge James Cloninger sentenced Filemon Suarez (DOB 7/4/85) to 47 years to life in prison.

April 12, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Jules Furth (DOB 12/11/63) was sentenced on April 11, 2012, by Superior Court Judge Colleen Toy White to 180 days in Ventura County jail after Furth pled guilty to felony stalking.

April 10, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ventura resident Hameed Abdul Hasan (DOB 3/08/72) was convicted by a jury on April 9, 2012, of one felony count of battery with serious bodily injury in violation of Penal Code section 243(d), and one felony count of false imprisonment by violence in violation of Penal Code section 236.

March 23, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the Ventura County District Attorney's Office is currently prosecuting James Homer Schoenhofen (DOB 7/19/43) for alleged crimes involving the sexual abuse of a child.

March 22, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on March 20, 2012, Yadder Espinosa (DOB 07/16/75) pled guilty to a felony violation of Insurance Code section 1871.4, workers' compensation insurance fraud.

March 22, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Unit has filed a felony complaint against Oxnard resident Gloria Becerra (DOB 8/24/65) and Los Angeles resident Hector Menendez (DOB 5/23/56) for grand theft and foreclosure consultant fraud.

March 13, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conviction of Joe Fidel Flores (DOB 04/23/1980), of Santa Paula, for the 2003 murder of Samuel Travis Reeves, age 15.

March 6, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the review by the District Attorney's Office of the circumstances surrounding the November 13, 2010, shooting of Jaime Daniel Delgado by Simi Valley Police Officer Jason Wilkinson has been completed.

March 2, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on March 1, 2012, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Brian Back sentenced Daniel Ray Coffman (DOB 03/31/54) to 54 months in jail following his conviction for three counts of felony grand theft.

February 29, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten advised today that the public should be aware of a telephone scam where the victim is deceived into dialing the symbol and numbers "*72" before dialing a telephone number.

February 17, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has convicted Salvador Tena (DOB 8/6/55), of Oxnard, of the second-degree murder of 65-year-old Candido Monge.

February 16, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Real Estate Fraud Unit has filed a felony complaint against Antonio Pena (DOB 12/21/72) of Moorpark, and Claudia Xochitl Gil (DOB 9/17/1973) of San Fernando.

February 13, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the filing of a complaint charging Geoffrey Charles Sjostrom (DOB 09-25-1954), of Simi Valley, with nine felony charges, including multiple counts of grand theft, perjury, forgery, and the aggravated white collar crime enhancement.

February 13, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Daniel Dale Givens (DOB 7/29/47), of Camarillo, was sentenced by Judge Kevin McGee to serve 240 days in jail for possessing child pornography.

February 9, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney's Office has received an award of $423,573 to continue its efforts in investigating and prosecuting real estate and mortgage fraud cases in Ventura County.

February 3, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury found Daniel Ray Coffman (DOB 03/31/54) guilty of three counts of felony grand theft. After a two-week trial, Coffman, a former resident of Westlake Village, was found guilty of defrauding an Oak Park woman. The case was investigated by the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation and the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

February 3, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Thomas Heath (DOB: 4/1/1947), of Ventura, was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Hirsch to 35 years to life in prison for dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, threatening a witness for giving information to law enforcement, promoting the felonious criminal conduct of the Hells Angels, and doing all of the above after having been convicted of four prior strike offenses.

February 3, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ventura resident Eric Wayne Caples (DOB 7/24/78) was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Ryan Wright to seven years and four months in state prison.

January 30, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office was awarded a new grant for "The Vertical Prosecution of Drug and Alcohol DUI Offenders and Repeat Offenders."

January 27, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that murder charges have been filed against Jose Escobar-Monterrozo (DOB: 3-31-76), of Simi Valley, for the January 25, 2012, killing of victim Claudia Menjivar.

January 27, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on January 26, 2012, the Honorable Kevin McGee sentenced Theodore Feightner (DOB 12/29/1947), of Thousand Oaks, to 270 days in jail following his conviction for a felony charge of possessing child pornography.

January 20, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Llamas (DOB: 3/9/70), of Santa Paula, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Murphy to 48 years and eight months to life in prison.

January 20, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that David Walter Caramanis (DOB: 09/01/71), of Westlake Village, was sentenced to 12 years eight months in the Ventura County jail for the manufacture and possession of Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid (commonly known as GHB).

January 9, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Aaron McIntosh (DOB 10/18/72) of Ventura was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles Campbell to 12 years in prison for stealing a motorcycle on behalf of the Hells Angels in an attempt to punish a member for leaving the gang, committing the crime while out on bail in another criminal case, and committing the crime after having been sentenced to prison on three prior occasions.

January 3, 2012 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the review of the allegations against Arthur Joe Lopez, a former member of the Oxnard School District Board of Trustees, for misappropriating public funds. The District Attorney's Office has rejected the case for prosecution because charges cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

December 16, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has found Thomas Heath (DOB 4/1/47), of Ventura, guilty of dissuading a witness, threatening a witness and street terrorism. Heath was also convicted of having committed four prior strike offenses.

December 15, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the filing of a second criminal case against disbarred attorney Russell Takasugi (DOB 10/26/1954) of Moorpark. The complaint alleges two counts of grand theft, four counts of forgery, and one count of money laundering.

December 14, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Joshua Packer was sentenced in Ventura County Superior Court for his convictions in three separate jury trials.

December 14, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Superior Court Judge Kevin McGee sentenced Fidel Bermudez (DOB 08/24/1967), of Miami, to eight years in prison for perpetrating a Ponzi scheme in Ventura County from 2004 to 2007.

December 13, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that murder charges have been filed against Dominic Rice (DOB 10/24/62), a transient Oxnard resident.

December 8, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on December 7, 2011, Alexis Ann Pate (DOB 09/30/77), of Camarillo, pleaded guilty to three counts of felony grand theft and admitted that she stole more than $100,000 from the victim, M3 Civil, Inc.

December 8, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Paige Jones Hibbits (DOB 09/05/1942) of Camarillo, also known as Pearl Hibbits, Pearl Klenoski, Pearl Jones, Paige Jones, and Pearl McClelland, has been arrested and charged with 21 felony counts of forgery, money laundering, grand theft, computer fraud, and the aggravated white collar crime enhancement.

November 29, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Second District Court of Appeal has upheld the indictment of Joshua Packer. A grand jury indicted Packer on three counts of first degree murder, two counts of first degree robbery, one count of first degree burglary, and allegations that Packer personally used a knife and a firearm.

November 28, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced the conclusion of his office's review of the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of Mario Lopez by Ventura Police Officer Eric Jackson on May 20, 2011.

November 21, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the case against Brandon McInerney for the murder of Lawrence Fobes King has been resolved.

November 14, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Trinidad Burquez, (DOB 3/27/55), of Port Hueneme, was sentenced by Judge Kevin DeNoce to eight years in state prison. On October 14, 2011, a jury found Burquez guilty of inflicting corporal injury upon a cohabitant.

November 9, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jonathan Aaron, (DOB: 8/26/82), of Port Hueneme, has been convicted of first degree murder for the slaying of Valerie Ankerstrom on October 16, 2009.

November 8, 2011 -  District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on November 7, 2011, Judge Kevin McGee sentenced Melissa Lopez (DOB 03/16/1970), of Ventura, to five years in prison, and Cheryl Figueroa (04/15/1965), of Ventura, to four years in prison after they were convicted of felony charges of conspiracy, grand theft and computer fraud. The case against Lopez and Figueroa resulted from an investigation by the Ventura Police Department.

October 17, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today a jury has found Aaron McIntosh (DOB 10/18/72), of Ventura, guilty of one count of committing a felony while actively participating in a criminal street gang, the Hells Angels, and one count of vehicle theft.

October 6, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that

on October 5, 2011, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Colleen Toy White found Russell Takasugi (DOB 10/26/1954) of Moorpark guilty following his pleas of no contest.

September 30, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Claudia Marron (DOB 02/13/76) of Port Hueneme and Laura Munoz (D/O/B 3/9/66) of Oxnard have been sentenced to state prison for embezzling from their employer, the Dole Berry Company.

September 28, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Daniel Lewis Kupper (DOB 05/08/48), formerly of Agoura, was sentenced to serve 28 months in state prison for his role in a scam that fleeced hundreds of elderly victims and banks that serviced the accounts of the victims.

September 13, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that James Loarl White (DOB 2/7/61), of Oxnard, has been sentenced to serve 270 days in jail, placed on five years of felony probation, ordered to attend sex offender counseling, and required to register as a sex offender for possessing child pornography.

September 12, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that his office has found no violation of conflict of interest laws regarding Ventura City Councilmember Christy Weir in the enactment of the city's amnesty ordinance for second dwelling units.

September 9, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Javier Murillo (DOB 4/17/79), of Ventura, was sentenced to 14 years and eight months in prison after a jury found him guilty of criminal threats, false imprisonment by violence, and corporal injury upon a spouse.

September 8, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Real Estate Fraud Unit has filed a felony complaint against Juan Alvarado Cervantes (DOB: 01/31/1962, AKA: Juan Alvarado) of Fontana, California .

September 2, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that while he is disappointed in the jury's inability to reach a verdict in the case against Brandon McInerney, he is unwavering in his determination to hold McInerney accountable for the killing of Larry King and will seek to have the case reset for trial.

August 31, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit has filed a 49-count felony complaint against Kenneth A. Powell (DOB 6/18/53), a former resident of Thousand Oaks; Katie Rose (DOB 7/25/49) of Woodland Hills; and Paul Charles Lascola (DOB 10/26/42) of Thousand Oaks.

August 29, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Trevor Curtis Hart (DOB 12/17/63) of Simi Valley has been sentenced to serve 270 days in jail for possessing child pornography. Hart had pleaded guilty to one count of felony possession of child pornography in July 2011.

August 26, 2011 - Complaints and inquiries about charitable fundraising activities are on the rise. All charitable fundraisers must be conducted within the guidelines of the law.

August 24, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on August 23, 2011, a Ventura County Superior Court Judge found sufficient evidence to hold over for trial two Oxnard residents in connection with the February 19, 2010, murder of Oxnard business owner Sun Cha Kays.

August 19, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that CVS Pharmacy, Inc. a Rhode Island Corporation, doing business in California as CVS /pharmacy agreed to settle a $2 million consumer protection lawsuit alleging that the company overcharged customers for sale items and engaged in misleading advertising.

August 16, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ricardo Villa, age 36, was sentenced to death by the Honorable Kevin McGee for the June 27, 1993, rape and murder of Beatrice Bellis.

August 1, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Raymond Rancourt (DOB 08/11/57), of Simi Valley, has been sentenced to serve 180 days in jail after having pled guilty to felony possession of child pornography.

July 29, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the review by the District Attorney's Office of the allegations of battery against Ventura City Councilman James Monahan.

July 27, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on July 26, 2011, Shirley Pina (DOB 2/13/54), of Oxnard, was sentenced after being convicted of felony grand theft from a Public Housing Authority program.

July 21, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Nicholas Klopp (DOB 4/22/84), of Piru, was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon with a hate crime special allegation, assault, and violation of civil rights, by a Ventura County jury.

July 20, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that defendant Jordan Drevy Wallman (DOB 10/24/83) was sentenced to 25-years-to-life in prison for the 2006 first-degree murder of Clyde Blount, a Saticoy resident.

July 15, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced the conclusion of his office's review of the circumstances surrounding the non-fatal shooting of Phillip G. Guevara by Senior Officer Scott Varner of the Santa Paula Police Department on October 6, 2010.

July 8, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Keith Hunt (DOB 1/13/61) of Camarillo has been sentenced to serve 270 days in jail for possessing child pornography.

July 7, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that a jury has convicted Victor Meraz (DOB 9-3-90), of Fillmore, of the first degree murder of 23-year-old Alberto Avalos during a drive-by shooting. The jury also found true the special circumstances and special allegations regarding the use of a gun and that the murder was committed to further the activities of "The Boyz" criminal street gang.

June 30, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Maria Victoria Santos (DOB 10/07/55), of Ventura, was sentenced to 365 days in jail and placed on formal probation for a term of 60 months by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Edward Brodie. Santos was also ordered to pay approximately $48,000 in restitution to her 15 victims as a term of probation.

June 29, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the arrest and the filing of a 34-count complaint against attorney Russell Takasugi (DOB 10-26-54) of Moorpark. The complaint alleges elder fraud, grand theft, money laundering, perjury, offering false instruments, and the aggravated white collar crime enhancement.

June 27, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the arrest and the filing of a 31-count felony complaint against Fidel Bermudez (DOB 08/24/1967) of Miami, Florida. The charges relate to an alleged Ponzi scheme and include multiple counts of grand theft, securities fraud and the aggravated white collar crime enhancement.

June 23, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Michael Lee Brunton (DOB 7-19-63), of Thousand Oaks, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder, residential burglary, kidnapping, and lewd act on a minor under 14 years of age.

June 21, 2011 - Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Real Estate Fraud Unit has filed a felony complaint against Aquilino Hernandez (aka Lino Hernandez, DOB 7/5/64) of Bellflower.

June 15, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on June 14, 2011, Edward Idukas (DOB 04/01/1985) was arrested by members of the Ventura County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation.

June 7, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on June 6, 2011, Elizabeth Dawn Peeler (DOB 11/03/85), formerly of Port Hueneme, was sentenced to 60 days in the Ventura County jail and three years formal probation.

June 6, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jennifer Joann Zito aka Jennifer Wageman (DOB 10/8/1973), of Chatsworth, was sentenced to serve 18 years in state prison for stealing approximately $850,000 in cash and vehicles from Simi Valley Cycles (SVC) and evading state income taxes on the money. Zito had been found guilty of 18 felonies.

May 19, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on the first day of jury selection, Jordan Drevy Wallman (DOB 10/24/83) pled guilty to the 2006 first-degree murder of Clyde Blount, a Saticoy resident.

May 16, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Claudia Leon-Lopez (DOB 12-03-1954), a resident of Oxnard , has been arrested and charged with four felony counts of identity theft, grand theft, and welfare fraud.

May 11, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on May 10, 2011, Alexander Kastler (DOB 1/27/87), of Simi Valley , was sentenced to serve 240 days in jail for possessing child pornography. Kastler had pleaded guilty to one count of felony possession of child pornography in February 2011.

May 10, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced that Shawn Damon Barth pleaded guilty to the charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14, in violation of Penal Code section 269(a)(1), and continuous sexual abuse, in violation of Penal Code section 288.5(a).

April 29, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Melissa Lopez (DOB 03/16/1970) and Cheryl Figueroa (DOB 04/15/1965) of Ventura have been arrested and charged with five felony counts of conspiracy, grand theft and computer fraud.

April 29, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conviction of Ricardo Villa (DOB 5/29/75), of Port Hueneme, for the 1993 rape and murder of Beatrice Bellis, age 87.

April 27, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the sentencing of Noel Craig (DOB 12/22/54) of Thousand Oaks . A jury convicted Craig of financial elder abuse. Craig opened a Bank of America credit card in her father's name and charged over $13,000 without his knowledge.

April 25, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on April 25, 2011, a jury found Jennifer Joann Zito (D/O/B 10/8/1973), of Calabasas, guilty of 18 felonies related to her theft of more than $800,000 in cash and vehicles from Simi Valley Cycles.

April 22, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Oxnard resident Maria Lissette Bucio (DOB 12/30/80) was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Kevin Denoce to 25 years to life in prison for her role in the August 16, 2008, murder of Oxnard business owner Gurmohinder "Doc" Singh.

April 21, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that his office will carefully review every filed case in which the Alco-Sensor V breath testing device was used.

April 19, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Alonzo Gene McCowan (DOB 7/5/60) has been sentenced after pleading guilty to three felony counts arising out of a series of real estate transactions. The crimes are alleged to have occurred during the period of October 2004 through September 2006, but were not discovered until January 2008.

April 15, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the filing of a criminal complaint against Jeffery Donnel Vines (DOB 7/24/48), of Ojai, alleging three felony counts of possession of child pornography by a registered sex offender. The charges against Vines are the result of an investigation conducted by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, with assistance from the Southern California High Technology Task Force.

April 14, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jose Antonio Medina Arreguin (a.k.a. Don Pepe) was sentenced to serve 22 years in state prison. This comes as a result of the defendant pleading guilty to the charge that he conspired to possess heroin for sale in violation of Penal Code section 182(a) (1), Health and Safety Code section 11351, and admitting the special allegation that the amount of heroin exceeded 40 kilograms by weight pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 11370.4(a)(5).

April 8, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that April 10-16, 2011, is National Crime Victims' Rights Week. Since its inception in 1981, National Crime Victims' Rights Week has been a time to honor both crime victims and the advocates who fight for victims' rights and services. Two events will be held this year: a lunchtime program and march, and an evening showing of the film "Heaven's Rain."

March 25, 2011 - The District Attorney's Office has concluded its review of the circumstances surrounding the May 24, 2010, shooting death of Timothy Chacon by Oxnard Police Officer Zachary Stiles.

March 23, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten today announced the conclusion of his office's review of the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Juan Luis Reyes by Oxnard Police Detective Edward Baldwin last year.

March 21, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit has filed a seven-count felony complaint against Larry Curtis Waltz (DOB 10/18/44) of Ventura. The complaint charges Waltz with one count of theft from an elder (Penal Code §  368(d)), five counts of grand theft (Penal Code §  487(a)) and one count of recording a false document (Penal Code §  115(a)).

March 17, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Judge Edward F. Brodie sentenced Charles William Proctor (DOB 11/24/64) of Ventura to three years probation and 60 days in Ventura County jail for charges arising out of an undercover operation by the Department of Consumer Affairs, Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), involving smog testing fraud.

March 16, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Jose Antonio Medina Arreguin (a.k.a. Don Pepe) pled guilty during an early disposition conference to the charge that he conspired to possess heroin for sale in violation of Penal Code section 182(a)(1) and Health and Safety Code section 11351. Arreguin also admitted as true a special allegation that the amount of heroin exceeded 40 kilograms by weight pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 11370.4(a)(5).

March 15, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Luis Ortega (DOB 5/10/90), of Newbury Park, was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Riley to life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years to life in prison for the killing of Juan Nabte, age 21.

March 7, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Enrique Sandoval Martinez (DOB: 01/19/65), formerly of Thousand Oaks, was sentenced to the maximum term of 15 years imprisonment after a jury convicted him of six felonies involving real estate fraud on December 2, 2010.

March 3, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten, together with 19 other California District Attorneys, the California Attorney General, and the city attorneys in San Diego and Los Angeles , announced today that a settlement has been reached in a civil law-enforcement action filed against Target Corporation in Alameda County in June 2009.

February 28, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Victor Bernal (DOB 12/7/75), of Oxnard, was sentenced by Judge Nancy Ayers to 11 years and 4 months in state prison after pleading guilty to 12 counts of auto theft, possession of a firearm by a felon and drug sales.

February 24, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, Maria Victoria Santos (DOB 10/07/55) of Ventura pled guilty to four felony counts of unlawful act by a foreclosure consultant, in violation of California Civil Code section 2945.4, and four felony counts of grand theft, in violation of California Penal Code section 487(a).

February 17, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Alonzo Gene McCowan (DOB 7/5/60) pleaded guilty to three felony counts arising out of a series of real estate transactions.

February 16, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Brieann McCloskey (DOB 02/15/84) of Thousand Oaks pleaded guilty to 15 counts of felony identity theft and admitted that she committed several of the identity thefts while she was out on bail.

February 9, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Steven Kall (DOB 3/12/55), of Lockwood Valley and Sherman Oaks, pleaded guilty to 36 felony counts of money laundering and one felony count of possessing marijuana for sale.

February 8, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Luis Ortega (DOB 5/10/90), of Newbury Park , was convicted of first degree murder with special circumstances for the murder of Juan Nabte, age 21.

February 3, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that after an investigation conducted by the California Highway Patrol Office and the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation, a felony complaint has been filed against Christopher Michael Throgmorton (DOB 04-08-79) of Simi Valley .

February 2, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today the conclusion of the review by the District Attorney's Office of the circumstances surrounding the November 15, 2009, shooting of Daniel Chilson by Ventura Police Officers Daniel Stegner, Josh Young, and Karl Reyes.

January 25, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Oxnard resident Gabriel Lopez (DOB 5/24/88) has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for his role in the February 19, 2010, gunshot slaying of Oxnard business owner Sun Cha Kays.

January 13, 2011 - Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney's Office Real Estate Fraud Unit has filed a felony complaint against Maria Victoria Santos (aka Vicky Santos, DOB 10/07/55) of Ventura, Felipe Carlos Segovia Castro (aka Felipe Carlos, DOB 11/20/43) of Moreno Valley, Laura Cecilia Carlson (DOB 10/18/46) of Hacienda Heights, and Margie Joanna Vargas (DOB 02/12/88) of the city of Orange.

January 5, 2011 - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Judge Kevin Denoce has sentenced Colonia Chiques Gang member Brandon Arauz (DOB 8/16/1986), of Oxnard , to 64 years to life in prison for two premeditated and deliberate attempt murder convictions.