Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On 6/13/11, deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff Department’s Ojai Valley Station responded to a report of a victim with serious facial injuries at Ojai Community Hospital. During the investigation, it was learned the victim suffered facial fractures during a pre-arranged meeting in an alley on the east end of the City of Ojai. The meeting was arranged to “settle” a disagreement from another altercation between the two subjects the previous night. There was no evidence this battery was gang related.

During the fight on 6/13/11, the male juvenile suspect punched the victim multiple times about the head and face, while the victim was lying motionless on the ground. Investigators learned another subject who was present during the battery was Jesse Diaz and that Jesse video recorded the fight with his cellular phone.

Jesse Diaz was on Probation from a conviction regarding an unrelated assault on this same victim in December, 2010. As a term of his probation, the court ordered Jesse to “stay away” from the victim. A probation search of Jesse’s residence produced his cellular phone, which contained the video of the fight, showing the suspect battering the victim. Because he was present during the fight, in violation of his court order to stay away from the victim, Jesse was arrested for violating a court order.

The juvenile suspect was arrested for Battery, causing Serious Bodily injury and lodged at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Facility.

Location: Dirt Alley, East of 1002 Ojai Ave., Ojai, Ca

Date / RB#: 6/13/11 / RB# 11-13373

Unit Responsible: Ojai Valley Station Detectives

(S)uspects City of Residence Age
Male Juvenile Meiners Oaks 17
Jesse Diaz Ojai 18

Officer Preparing Release: Detective Steve Michalec

Follow-up Contact: Detective Steve Michalec

Date of Release: June 17, 2011

Approved By: Captain Chris Dunn