Ventura County
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Latest Ventura County stories — newest first.
COLD CASE / DNA Jan 15, 20262 minDNA Identifies Fillmore Teen Found in Illinois 60 Years After Disappearance
A decades-old mystery that began in the orchards of Fillmore has finally been solved using advanced genetic genealogy. Ronald Joe Cole, who was just 19 when he vanished in 1965, has been identified as the "Geneseo John Doe" whose remains were found by a postman in a rural Illinois creek nearly six decades ago.
Joseph Ladra
GOVERNMENT / LABORJan 14, 20262 minVentura County Board Approves New Salary Increases Amid Equity Concerns
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has officially approved a new labor agreement that includes significant salary increases and market-based adjustments for thousands of employees. While the 7 to 1 vote secures raises through 2028, some technical staff argue the package disproportionately benefits administrative managers.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / GUN VIOLENCEJan 14, 20262 minFour Moorpark Men Arrested Following Month Long Gun Discharge Investigation
A months-long investigation into a shooting incident has led to the arrest of four Moorpark residents this week. The arrests stem from an October report of a firearm being discharged from a vehicle, prompting a coordinated sweep by the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
Joseph Ladra
LOCAL HISTORY / WORLD WAR II Jan 14, 20262 minForgotten History: The Aerial Balloon Attack on Ventura County During World War II
Historians are revisiting the "Fugo" balloon attacks of 1945, a desperate Japanese military project that reached the shores of Saticoy, Moorpark, and Oxnard. Exactly 81 years ago this week, paper balloons launched from across the Pacific brought the front lines of the war directly to local agricultural fields.
Joseph Ladra
PUBLIC SAFETY / SCHOOLSJan 14, 20262 minCamarillo Police Warn Residents of High School Water Assassin Game
The Camarillo Police Department is bracing for the start of the annual "Water Assassins" game, a student-led competition that has historically triggered 911 calls and public safety scares. Law enforcement is warning parents that the use of replica firearms and reckless driving during the game could lead to tragic misunderstandings.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / HOMICIDEJan 14, 20262 minOxnard Man Sentenced to 54 Years for 2015 Murder of Angel Diaz
Aaron Jabezz Holmes, 30, has been sentenced to 54 years to life for the cold blooded 2015 killing of Angel Diaz. The sentencing follows a violent New Year's Eve crime spree where Holmes shot Diaz through his truck window as the victim sat outside an Oxnard donut shop eating dinner after a late shift.
Joseph Ladra
GOVERNMENT / LEADERSHIPJan 13, 20262 minSupervisor Jeff Gorell Selected to Chair Ventura County Board of Supervisors
The Ventura County Board of Supervisors has shifted its leadership for 2026, selecting Supervisor Jeff Gorell to serve as the new chair. Gorell, a former State Assemblyman and Navy Captain, will lead the five member board alongside newly appointed Vice Chair Vianey Lopez.
Joseph Ladra
BUSINESS / DEVELOPMENTJan 13, 20262 minConstruction of Camarillo Costco and Gas Station Finally Visible from 101 Freeway
After years of planning and demographic studies, the new 160,000 square foot Costco warehouse at the west end of the Camarillo Town Center is officially taking shape. Heavy machinery and the signature red gas station canopy are now visible to drivers passing the Springville exit on the 101 Freeway.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / SEXUAL ASSAULTJan 13, 20262 minSanta Paula Man Convicted of Eight Felony Sex Crimes Spanning Decades
Martin Herrejon Vieyra, 58, has been convicted of eight felony counts related to the sexual abuse of three children he knew through family connections. The crimes, which spanned nearly three decades, only came to light recently when the survivors found the courage to come forward.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / HOMICIDEJan 13, 20262 minZarbab Ali Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Brutal Murder of Estranged Wife
In a case that shocked the Simi Valley community, Zarbab Ali has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for the 2022 murder of Rachael Castillo. Ali was convicted of lying in wait at their shared apartment before stabbing the mother of his two children to death.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / CELEBRITYJan 13, 20262 minHome Alone Star Daniel Stern Charged with Soliciting Prostitution in Camarillo
Actor Daniel Stern, best known for his iconic role as "Marv" in the Christmas classic Home Alone, is facing legal trouble in Ventura County. The 68 year old actor turned farmer was officially charged on Monday with a misdemeanor count of soliciting prostitution following an incident at a local motel.
Joseph Ladra
WEATHER / PUBLIC WORKSJan 12, 20262 minGasoline Detected in Ventura Storm Drain Following Recent Heavy Rains
Residents in the beachside Pierpont neighborhood reported a strong smell of gasoline following recent heavy rains. City officials have confirmed that a year-old underground spill has likely been mobilized by the rainwater, sending contamination into the local drainage system.
Joseph Ladra
PUBLIC SAFETY / TRIBUTEJan 12, 20262 minOxnard Police Commander Scott Aaron Passes Away During Training Assignment
The Oxnard Police Department is mourning the sudden loss of Commander Scott Aaron, a 20-year veteran of the force. Aaron, who was recently promoted in May 2025, was found deceased in his hotel room while attending a professional training session in Orange County.
Joseph Ladra
GOVERNMENT / INFRASTRUCTUREJan 12, 20262 minJulia Brownley Secures Nearly 20 Million Dollars for Ventura County Infrastructure
In one of her final major legislative acts before her newly announced retirement, Congresswoman Julia Brownley has secured nearly $20 million in federal funding for the 26th District. The appropriations package is set to fund critical safety upgrades and infrastructure repairs across Ventura County.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / NARCOTICSJan 12, 20262 minVentura County Deputies Seize 92 Pounds of Drugs and 14 Guns in Major Bust
A major drug trafficking operation has been dismantled after a series of coordinated raids in December led to the arrest of five men. Ventura County deputies uncovered a massive stash of methamphetamine, marijuana, and high-powered rifles hidden in residential homes across the region.
Joseph Ladra
IMMIGRATION / ACTIVISMJan 12, 20262 minProtesters Hold ICE Out For Good Rally at Ventura County Government Center
The recent shooting death of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota has ignited a firestorm of protests across the country, reaching the steps of the Ventura County Government Center this past weekend. Demonstrators gathered to demand an end to federal immigration raids, citing a pattern of violence and a lack of accountability in recent ICE operations.
Joseph Ladra
GOVERNMENT / POLITICSJan 9, 20262 minCongresswoman Julia Brownley Announces She Will Not Seek Reelection in 2026
After over a decade of representing Ventura County in Washington, Congresswoman Julia Brownley has officially announced she will not seek re-election next year. The high ranking member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee will leave a vacancy in one of the region's most influential political seats.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGJan 9, 20262 minPort Hueneme Police Officer Stabbed in Face During Violent Confrontation
A standard behavioral health assistance call turned into a bloody struggle Thursday afternoon when a man attacked a Port Hueneme police officer with a knife. The incident quickly escalated into an officer involved shooting that left both the suspect and the injured officer hospitalized.
Joseph Ladra
COMMUNITY / PHILANTHROPYJan 9, 20262 minOxnard Police Department Announces Results of 2025 Pink Patch Campaign
The Oxnard Police Department has announced the results of its eighth annual breast cancer awareness drive, marking nearly a decade of local support. Through t shirt sales and pop up fundraisers at places like Starbucks and Raising Cane’s, the department continues to set records for community driven charity.
Joseph Ladra
CRIME / FRAUDJan 9, 20262 minJose Santos Villalobos Convicted of Forging Court Documents to Take Custody of Daughter
A jury has convicted Jose Santos Villalobos, 34, of a sophisticated scheme to bypass the legal system using fabricated court orders. Villalobos attempted to use the forged documents to seize custody of his daughter from law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office, claiming he had been granted emergency temporary custody.
Joseph Ladra