Ventura County
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Latest Ventura County stories — newest first.
POLITICS / PROTESTJan 27, 20261 minVentura Protest Honors Minnesota Nurse Killed by Federal Agents
A weekly rally at the Ventura County Government Center transformed into a memorial protest for Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse shot and killed by federal agents in Minnesota last Saturday. Demonstrators lined the corners of the courthouse with "RIP" signs, drawing parallels between the shooting and recent local concerns over federal enforcement.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / HOMICIDEJan 27, 20261 minSecond-Degree Murder Charge Filed in 2023 Thousand Oaks Overdose
Nearly three years after a 30-year-old man was found dead in a Thousand Oaks hotel room, prosecutors have filed second-degree murder charges against Thomas Syslo, 33. The arrest follows a complex investigation by the Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Unit (VCU) that traced the lethal drug sale back to Syslo's residence in Torrance.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / PUBLIC SAFETYJan 27, 20261 minNursing Assistant Arraigned for Sexual Abuse of Dependent Adults
A multi-state investigation has led to the arrest of Kayode Agbolade Ogunba, 61, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) accused of sexually assaulting vulnerable patients at a Goleta care home. Authorities believe there may be additional victims across California, Washington, and Texas, where Ogunba has worked over the past seven years.
Joseph Ladra
ACCIDENTS / TRAFFICJan 26, 20261 min37-Year-Old Man Dies Days After Solo-Vehicle Crash in Camarillo
A tragic accident on Adolfo Road has claimed the life of a 37 year old man following a high-impact collision near Calleguas Creek. The vehicle struck both a tree and a light pole on Wednesday afternoon, leaving the driver with fatal injuries and a teenage passenger hospitalized.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / LEGAL Jan 26, 20261 minDavid Hoetzlein Pleads Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity in Mother's Death
The Camarillo man accused of the 2022 strangulation and dismemberment of his mother, Tomoko Hoetzlein, has officially entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. The case, which has been stalled for years due to mental competency hearings, now moves into a new phase where court-appointed psychologists will evaluate David’s state of mind at the time of the killing.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / PROPERTY THEFTJan 26, 20261 minSanta Barbara Man Arrested in Simi Valley for Stolen Car and Burglary Tools
A 34 year old Santa Barbara man is behind bars after the Simi Valley Police Department's high-tech video alert system flagged a stolen car roaming near Sycamore Drive. The vehicle, reported stolen just 24 hours prior, was found loaded with additional stolen property intended for a local business.
Joseph Ladra
LABOR / HEALTHCARJan 26, 20261 minThousands of Kaiser Permanente Workers in Ventura County Join Massive Strike
Healthcare services across the region are facing major disruptions as 31,000 Kaiser Permanente workers in California and Hawaii walked off the job on Monday. Local picket lines formed at 7 a.m. at the Woodland Hills Medical Center, with nurses and laboratory professionals demanding safer staffing levels and improved pension benefits.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / VIOLENCEJan 26, 20261 minPort Hueneme Officer Stabbed in the Eye During Mental Health Crisis Call
A Port Hueneme police officer is in stable condition after a violent attack inside a home on Willowbrook Drive. The officer was responding to a mental health crisis call when 32 year old Christian Octavio Arreola allegedly charged with a steel dental pick, striking the officer in the eye and repeatedly thrusting at his torso.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / NARCOTICS Jan 24, 20261 minRingwood Fentanyl Kingpin Sentenced to 15 Years Under New State Law
In a landmark case for the region, Jose Trinidad Bueno Garcia has been sentenced to 15 years in state prison for leading a massive fentanyl trafficking ring. Garcia is one of the first major offenders to face significantly increased penalties due to Proposition 36, which targets large-scale drug weight enhancements.
Joseph Ladra
PUBLIC SAFETY / GEOLOGICALJan 24, 20262 minYear-Round Evacuation Warning Issued for La Conchita
Authorities have significantly updated the safety status of the seaside community of La Conchita, declaring it a "Geological Hazard Area" under a permanent evacuation warning. The move follows a historically wet start to the winter that has pushed rainfall totals far beyond the thresholds that triggered past catastrophic landslides.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / VIOLENCEJan 24, 20261 minOak View Man Sentenced to Six Years for Violent Domestic Attack
Christopher Lee Wieser, 45, has been ordered to state prison following a violent domestic assault that left a female victim unconscious. The brutal attack, which involved strangulation and the use of broken glass as a weapon, resulted in convictions for attempted aggravated mayhem and inflicting corporal injury.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / FINANCIALJan 24, 20261 minBookkeeper Pleads Guilty to Stealing $550,000 from Thousand Oaks Medical Practice
Ida Veronica Hernandez, 45, has pleaded guilty to seven felony counts of grand theft and one count of filing forged documents after draining over half a million dollars from a Thousand Oaks business. Prosecutors described a "calculated" scheme where Hernandez used fictitious employees and identity theft against her own coworkers to hide her tracks before fleeing across state lines.
Joseph Ladra
COMMUNITY / LITERACYJan 24, 20261 minDolly Parton’s Imagination Library Expands to Ventura County
A major literacy initiative is coming to Ventura County as local leaders aim to put a new book into the hands of every child from birth to age five. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has officially partnered with local nonprofits to launch a fundraising effort that will unlock dollar-for-dollar matching funds from the state.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / VIOLENCEJan 22, 20261 minGang Member Parolee Arrested After Knife Attack in Fillmore River Bottom
A high stakes manhunt in the Santa Clara River bottom ended with the arrest of 34 year old Ivan Hernandez. A documented gang member on active parole for a shooting, Hernandez allegedly chased victims with a knife near the Chambersburg Bridge before attempting to hide in the dense brush.
Joseph Ladra
SPORTS Jan 22, 20261 minVentura Resident Callum Walsh to Headline Inaugural Zuffa Boxing Event
Local boxing standout Callum Walsh is making history this week as the headliner for a major card in Las Vegas. Living and training in Ventura, Walsh will step into the ring against Carlos Ocampo in a 10 round bout that marks a massive partnership between the UFC’s parent company and Saudi entertainment groups.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / BURGLARYJan 22, 20261 minFour Chilean Nationals Plead Guilty to $3 Million Simi Valley Jewelry Heist
Four members of a sophisticated international "burglary tourism" ring have admitted to a Hollywood-style heist at 5 Star Jewelry & Watch Repair. The crew used ladders and ropes to cut through the roof of a neighboring coffee shop before drilling through a shared wall to reach the jewelry store’s safe.
Joseph Ladra
GOVERNMENT / LANDJan 22, 20261 minConejo Park District Finalizes $30 Million Purchase of Thousand Oaks Headquarters
In a massive real estate deal, the Conejo Recreation and Park District (CRPD) has agreed to buy its long time headquarters and the surrounding Fireworks Hill for $30.4 million. The transaction secures the district’s future on the historic site while providing the city with a massive cash injection for its upcoming downtown revitalization.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / LEGALJan 22, 20261 minPatagonia Sues Drag Queen Pattie Gonia Over Trademark Dispute
Ventura based outdoor giant Patagonia Inc. has filed a federal lawsuit against environmental activist and drag performer Wyn Wiley, known professionally as Pattie Gonia. The company alleges that Wiley’s branding on apparel and hiking events creates "consumer confusion" and violates a prior agreement to not use the name on products.
Joseph Ladra
BUSINESS / REAL ESTATEJan 21, 20262 minRhino Investments Group Acquires Pleasant Valley Plaza in Oxnard for 20.3 Million Dollars
In a major commercial real estate move, Rhino Investments Group has acquired the grocery-anchored Pleasant Valley Plaza in Oxnard. The deal secures a massive 81,000-square-foot retail hub located at one of the city's busiest intersections.
Joseph Ladra
BUSINESS / RETAILJan 21, 20262 minThousand Oaks Boutique to Close as Francesca’s Announces National Liquidation
The women’s fashion chain Francesca’s has officially announced it will shutter all 457 of its locations, including the boutique at The Oaks mall. The move comes amid reports of massive unpaid vendor invoices and a shift toward a total liquidation of the 25-year-old brand.
Joseph Ladra