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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department On February 22, 2012, deputies responded to the Los Robles Hospital Emergency Room regarding a report of a person who had received injuries from an explosive device. Gary Hayes alleged that he had been in a vehicle with two juveniles in the 500 block of Avenida del Platino when an unknown person threw a bottle into the vehicle. An unknown substance then exploded on him, causing injury to his upper torso. Hayes injuries were significant and required surgery. One of the juveniles also received minor injuries that required medical attention. Deputies learned that the juveniles transported Hayes to the hospital after the explosion. The car was then taken to another location in the 1600 block of Marian Drive before any notification to the authorities. Due to the perceived risk to the public, there was a significant response that included several patrol deputies, Fire Department personnel and detectives from the East County Major Crimes Unit and Bomb/Arson Unit. The response to all three locations was treated as a potential hazardous material incident. The Los Robles Emergency Room was even closed off to the public for a period of time until it was determined the substance was no longer a danger. During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered that Hayes had fabricated the story about the device being thrown into the car. It turned out that Hayes had actually created the explosive device and was knowingly transporting it in the vehicle when it inadvertently exploded. Hayes and the one of the juveniles in the car were the only people injured during this incident. On February 24, 2012, Hayes was arrested for the felony charge of manufacturing an explosive device, felony child endangerment, and falsely reporting a crime to the police. On Feburary 28, 2012, Hayes was arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court and held on $110,000.00 bail. Nature of Incident: Manufacturing of an Explosive Device / Hazardous Material Incident |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
Ventura County Sheriff's Department In recent months, the City of Thousand Oaks began experiencing a rash of residential burglaries in upscale areas within the city. The burglaries were all consistent in that only jewelry, cash, and other small items were taken. The combined property loss was hundreds of thousands of dollars. On January 20, 2012, at about 1230 hrs., three male suspects forced their way into an unoccupied residence in the 1300 Block of Doral Circle, Thousand Oaks. During the burglary, the residents returned home and the three suspects fled. A witness was able to provide a description of the vehicle along with a partial license plate. Sheriff’s dispatchers were able to establish the suspect’s vehicle was a rented Dodge SUV out of the Los Angeles area. The vehicle was rented by Merchuria Cooper out of the Los Angeles Area. City of Thousand Oaks property crime detectives took over the investigation and identified Kenneth Hall as a possible suspect. Hall, who is a documented LA gang member, was on parole for a 2005 residential burglary. He was wanted by California Department of Corrections for violating his parole terms. The California Department of Corrections listed Hall as an armed and dangerous fugitive. A background check on Hall showed he was also arrested and sent to prison in 1999 for burglarizing a residence in the Spanish Hills area of Camarillo. In an effort to identify all the suspects in the string of burglaries, members of the Sheriff’s Gang Unit, Thousand Oaks Detectives, and a team from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Major Crimes- Metro, began a three-week investigation into Hall and his gang associates. The investigation identified a hard-core group of gang members and their girlfriends who were responsible for numerous burglaries across Southern California. All of the gang members had violent arrest records, which include murder, kidnapping, bank robbery, robbery, carjacking, and prior residential burglary arrests. The other suspects were identified as Dennis Coleman, Miles Chaissions, and Don Mosley. Investigators found that the group sold jewelry and items from their burglaries to support a lavish lifestyle for both themselves and to support girlfriends. Both Coleman and Hall appeared to be unemployed, but yet owned or rented BMW’s, Mercedes, and Jaguars vehicles. They went on extravagant shopping sprees and spent thousands of dollars at high-end nightclubs. During the investigation, it was determined that Coleman was currently out on bail for a Moorpark residential burglary that he was arrested for in 2010. On February 2, 2012, Coleman, Hall, and Chassions drove to the City of Ventura so Coleman could attend a court date for his 2010 residential burglary case. Investigators discovered that after the court date, the three drove to the City of Camarillo and committed a residential burglary before returning to the Los Angeles area. On February 12, 2012, at about 1800 hrs, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office investigators developed information that Chassions, Mosley and an unknown third suspect were in Pacific Palisades to commit a residential burglary. Investigators began surveillance and contacted the Los Angeles Police Department. LAPD officers intercepted the trio as they left the area and attempted to stop them. The suspects fled and evaded law enforcement in their vehicle on Pacific Coast Highway reaching speeds in excess of 100 MPH. During the pursuit, the suspects threw jewelry from the vehicle. The suspects drove to Santa Monica where they abandoned their car and fled. Don Mosley was found a short distance away and arrested. Chassions and the other suspect were able to elude police. LAPD detectives discovered the group had burglarized two residences in Pacific Palisades. Mosley was booked for burglary and evading arrest. He remains in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Jail on $1,000,000 bail. On February 22, 2012, investigators had obtained enough evidence to arrest Coleman, Chassions, and Hall for several burglaries committed in Ventura County. In addition, investigators believed that Cooper benefitted from the proceeds of the burglaries and offered material support for their criminal activities such as renting vehicles. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies stopped Coleman and Chassions and detained them while Ventura County Sheriff’s Investigators and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detectives served four search warrants in the Los Angeles area. During the service of the search warrants, investigators collected numerous pieces of jewelry and collector coins that appeared to be stolen. Cooper was arrested at her residence during the service of the search warrants. When investigators served a search warrant at Dennis Coleman’s residence, they found he lived with a female named Khajana Jones. Jones was identified as a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff. Jones was off duty and present during the search warrant. Deputies found what appeared to be stolen property in the residence and large sums of cash. Although it appears Jones did not participate in any of the burglaries, investigators believe she knew that Coleman was obtaining large sums of cash and jewelry from illegal means and was allowing him to store the proceeds at the residence. Coleman, Cooper, Jones, and Chassions were transported to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Pre-Trial Detention Facility where they were booked for various charges including numerous counts of residential burglaries. Ventura County Sheriff’s Detectives will arrest Hall once he is extradited from Nevada. Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). Nature of Incident: Residential Burglary Investigation/Arrest |
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By Monica McGrath — Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
January/February 2011 Issue
FARM WATCH: JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2012 ISSUE I am pleased to report that this edition of Farm Watch has a bit of good news to share given the multiple arrests made county-wide for metal thefts. The overall crime rate for this period vs. the same time period last year shows a decrease. Below is just an example of some fine team work with our deputies and ranch employees: On February 7th Deputy Peterson (Fillmore Police and Sheriff) made an arrest involving a copper wire theft / trespassing. Employees at a ranch on the 3700 block of Sycamore Road in Fillmore observed 2 subjects on the property stealing a 40' long power cord comprised of copper wire. The employees confronted the subjects and the subjects dropped the power cord and fled in a white older model Toyota pickup truck (License 6L08685 / CA). The employees called dispatch and gave a description of the vehicle (including the license plate number) and the subjects, as the employees tried to follow the subjects on the SR 126. Because of morning traffic on the SR 126, the employees were not able to continue following the Toyota as it drove westbound. Sgt. Juan Ponce of our Ventura Station ultimately located the Toyota pickup truck in the rear yard at 11396 Nardo Street in Saticoy. One subject that Sgt. Ponce was able to identify fled on foot, but he was able to detain the other suspect. Deputy Peterson did an in-field lineup and the employees for this Ranch were able to positively identify the subject detained as the person that was stealing the power cord and driving the white Toyota pickup truck. The suspect was arrested and booked at our Main Jail in Ventura. GREAT WORK BY ALL!! Because of the observant employees, their quick response, and detailed reporting of the incident (Toyota truck license plate number and suspects descriptions) to dispatch, deputies were able to locate and arrest one of the suspects and identify the second. This was a job well done by all involved (law enforcement and witnesses / victims). As a solid reminder for everyone, with quick and detailed reporting we can and will catch the thieves. This is prime avocado season and the thieves are out and about. The unincorporated areas all around the county have been hit. Please call in suspicious vehicles, persons, oddities, etc. so we can respond. Some of our deputies did catch a few avocado thieves, however, there were far more thefts than arrests in this crucial area. Agricultural Crimes Detective Ray Dominguez had the following to add to this edition of Farm Watch: Strawberry growing season is in full swing and over the past couple of weeks several pesticide thefts have been reported at local farms in the Camarillo and Oxnard areas. Historically, thieves begin targeting local farms at this time of year to steal materials that are both expensive and in high demand on the black market. The materials stolen commonly include pesticides, fertilizer, drip tape, and other equipment used in berry production. The thefts typically occur at night, and often get reported following a long holiday weekend, as thieves know that farm crews may not be working and the theft will go undetected for several days. I’ve also found that these thefts occur within a few days of the product being delivered to the farm. Investigating these thefts can be challenging as many of these products are not marked for identification and can easily be transferred to other unmarked containers to hide the contents. I’ve also found on occasion that victim’s suspect their own employees of providing information or actively participating in the theft, as they are intimately familiar with the farm operation. The fact that many farms share access to the property with their neighbors makes it difficult to track activity on the farm as different growers have varying schedules for their employees and people are constantly coming and going. I suggest you consider taking the following steps to help protect your farm from theft: Maintain all fences and keep gates locked. In addition to chemical thefts, we have started seeing avocado thefts on the rise with reports of several petty thefts and one grand theft from the Santa Paula / Fillmore area. Kudos to the Fillmore Station deputies as they have made a couple of arrests in connection with the petty thefts, but no suspect(s) have been identified in the grand theft. This leads me to comment on another avocado theft just reported in the Moorpark area that occurred on the evening of February 20th in which a property owner was attempting to protect his property. I can’t get into the details of this case as it is actively being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office. What I can share are some words of wisdom about how you should handle this type of situation. I want to emphasize that you should avoid confronting suspects on your own and only serve as a good witness. This incident highlights the fact that you just never know who you will encounter on your property, and the lengths suspects will go to avoid capture. I highly recommend that you use the guidelines listed below if you observe a crime in progress: Call the Sheriff’s Office immediately at 911. Following these guidelines will help keep you safe and provide important information to responding deputies in a timely manner. Remember property can be replaced…lives can’t! Be smart and stay safe, Detective Ray Dominguez Ventura County Sheriff’s Office – Agricultural Crimes Unit Great words of advice from Ray..... Also as a reminder: Please mark your equipment for identification. Please preserve the crime scene by keeping employees and vehicles out of the area until deputies arrive to process the scene. Please report criminal activity as soon as possible to increase the probability of recovering stolen If you are not sure of how to address the problem or would like additional crime prevention tips please contact your local Sheriff’s Office substation or Detective Ray Dominguez directly at (805) 477-7029 or by email at ray.dominguez@ventura.org. Contacts: Fillmore Detective Darin Hendren darin.hendrin@ventura.org or 524-2235 Ventura Detective Christine Rettura Christine.rettura@ventura.org 662- 6770 Agricultural Crimes Detective, Ray Dominguez at Ray.Dominguez@ventura.org As always, we would like to thank Sheriff’s Crime Analyst Karen Brown who puts together your maps and digests all the crime data along with Det. Ray Dominguez who assists with the crime summaries. Be alert and always safe! Monica (797-6338) Geoff Dean - Sheriff |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, February 27th, 2012
Ventura County Sheriff's Department On the morning of 2/23/12, Scott Doornbos brought his 5-year-old dog to a veterinarian in the City of Ojai. The dog died during treatment. After being notified of the dog’s death, Mr. Doornbos went to the animal hospital and confronted the veterinarian who treated the dog. Mr. Doornbos battered the veterinarian causing significant injury. Mr. Doornbos later drove to the Ojai Police Department and turned himself in to Detectives. Mr. Doornbos was interviewed and arrested for 243 (d) PC Battery With Serious Bodily Injury, a felony. He was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura and his bail was set at $20,000. Nature of Incident: Battery With Serious Bodily Injury |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Ventura County Sheriff's Department On February 20, 2012, at about 9:50 p.m., an off-duty Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy confronted thieves in a vehicle on private property. The deputy fired his weapon at the vehicle, in defense, fearing he was going to be run over by the fleeing suspect vehicle. The suspects fled the area in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle (SUV). An extensive search involving ground units, canines, and Air Unit failed to locate the suspects. The deputy was not injured. Area hospitals were alerted in the event the suspects struck by gunfire sought medical attention. Investigators with the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit, Sheriff’s Internal Affairs, and the District Attorney’s Office began an investigation, which is standard whenever a Sheriff’s Office employee deploys deadly force. The involved deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is also standard procedure in such cases. The name of the deputy is not being released at this time due to the very active early phase of the investigation. Nature of Incident: Officer Involved Shooting Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
VENTURA, CA - 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, California, and Claudia Xochitl Gil (DOB: 9/17/1973) of San Fernando, California. Gil currently holds a real estate broker’s license issued by the California Department of Real Estate and was formerly a licensed notary public. The felony complaint charges Pena with two counts of grand theft and one count of money laundering. Pena is also charged with excessive taking enhancements for stealing over $65,000 in one transaction, and stealing over $200,000 in a second transaction. Pena is also charged with an aggravated white-collar crime enhancement for having stolen more than $100,000 while committing two or more related felonies. If the aggravated white-collar crime enhancement is proven, the defendant can be ordered to serve his sentence in state prison. The felony complaint charges Gil with three counts of forgery and two counts of fraud related to a deed of trust. The charges are the result of a long-term investigation conducted by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Fraud Unit with the assistance of the Moorpark Police Department. The charges arose out of a fraudulent real estate transaction that closed escrow in 2005 concerning a home located at 4855 Penrose Avenue in Moorpark, California. Pena used a straw borrower to obtain two mortgage loans totaling over $500,000 in the course of refinancing the debt on the Penrose Avenue property. After the loans funded, Pena took the excess proceeds from the refinance transaction and caused a portion of these monies to be deposited into a financial institution. Gil forged the signatures of multiple individuals involved in this real estate transaction and fraudulently notarized signatures on deeds of trust that were recorded at the Ventura County Recorder’s Office. Pena was arrested in Moorpark, California, on February 15, 2012. An arrest warrant in the amount of $10,000 was issued for Gil on February 14, 2012. If convicted on all charges, Pena faces a maximum state prison sentence of six years, eight months. If convicted on all charges, Gil faces a maximum time in custody of four years eight months. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
VENTURA, CA - 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. The jury also found true the special allegation that Tena used a knife in the commission of the murder. The murder occurred on February 16, 2010, outside a restaurant in Oxnard where Monge had been eating. Tena fatally stabbed him in the parking lot and then fled the area. Tena was arrested the following day. Sentencing is scheduled for April 16, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. in department 35. Tena faces a maximum sentence of 16 years to life. |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Ventura County Sheriff's Department On 2/17/2012, the Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit (S.E.U.) conducted probation searches reference ongoing gang crimes/drug offenses, which resulted in the arrest of Nayeli Flores, Amanda Maben, and Jonathan Alinei. Flores was arrested for possession of heroin, possession of a smoking device and being under the influence of a controlled substance; Maben was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance; Alinei was arrested for a warrant. All three subjects were booked into the Ventura County Jail. Nature of Incident: Probation Sweep Deputy Preparing Media Release: Senior Deputy John Steele |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
Ventura County Sheriff's Department On February 15, 2012, Detectives from the Ventura County Combined Agencies Team (VCAT), and the Oxnard Police Department’s narcotics unit made an arrest resulting in the seizure of almost four pounds of heroin. An ongoing investigation revealed that Jose Luis Naranjo Heredia, 46, was distributing heroin throughout the city of Oxnard. Naranjo Heredia was contacted in the area of Hobson and Seventh Streets where an Oxnard Police K-9 located almost a half-pound of heroin concealed in Heredia’s vehicle. Detectives later served a search warrant at Heredia’s residence and located an additional three and a half pounds of heroin along with other materials associated with the packaging of heroin for distribution. The heroin seized has a potential street value of $136,000.00. VCAT is a countywide, multi-agency narcotic task force comprised of investigators from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, the Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The public needs to be aware of the dangers of heroin use. Heroin is an opiate narcotic, and is an illegal and highly addictive drug. Heroin and other opioids primary addictive qualities are exerted on those regions of the brain and central nervous system that are responsible for the pleasure sensation of “reward” and the “physical / psychological dependence syndrome.” Heroin itself, as well as the “drug abusing” lifestyle, may suppress the body’s immune system. This suppression makes users “high risk” for infections, some life threatening. Intravenous drug abusers account for the highest percentage of HIV (AIDS) and hepatitis virus infected population. Anyone with information on those responsible for distributing illicit drugs anywhere in Ventura County should notify their local law enforcement agency. Nature of Incident: Narcotics Arrest Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Ventura County Sheriff's Department On 2-14-12, at approximately 0815 hours, the Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from two stranded hikers in the Los Padres National Forest. Randy and Susan Thompson had left the Fillmore area on a backpacking trip two days earlier with the hopes of reaching Lockwood Valley. During their trip, they encountered extreme weather conditions and snow. The hike was difficult and much longer then they anticipated. Eventually, they reached the area of Mutau Flats, but couldn’t figure out which trail they were on. They also knew they would miss the rendezvous destination and be late causing their family to worry. Using a cell phone they brought on the trip, they called the Sheriff’s Office for help. Sgt. Underlin spoke with Susan over the phone. Using his extensive knowledge of the backcountry, Sgt. Underlin was able to narrow down their approximate location. Air Squad 9 and the Lockwood Valley resident deputies responded to the area to search for the missing pair. After a short search, Randy and Susan were located on the Mutau Creek Trail. Because of the weather and road closures they had an estimated 13 miles still to hike to reach the rendezvous point. Air Squad 9 landed on the trail and loaded in both hikers and their dog. Neither party was injured or required medical attention. They were flown to a location in Lockwood Valley where they were safely driven out of the area. The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind those going out to enjoy the backcountry to plan accordingly. The Thompson’s were well prepared with food, water, clothing and a cell phone. Had they not planned appropriately, their trip could have ended with serious consequences. The Ventura County backcountry is beautiful in the winter, but weather can change rapidly. Always layer your clothing and carry extra food and water in case you are caught in foul weather. Nature of Incident: Rescue of Stranded Hikers |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Tuesday, February 21st, 2012
Ventura County Sheriff's Department The Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Traffic Bureau is investigating an injury traffic accident involving a vehicle and two pedestrians. The collision occurred in the 1400 block of Calle De Oro. Barbara Fritschel and Martha Bielke were walking southbound on the east sidewalk of Calle De Oro, while Marsha Mann was attempting to back her car out of a residential driveway. Fritschel and Bielke attempted to move out of the path of Mann’s car, but they stumbled and fell onto the sidewalk. Mann continued backing and drove over Fritschel. Personnel from the Ventura County Fire Department and American Medical Response responded to the scene. Fritschel was treated at the scene and then transported via ambulance to Los Robles Regional Medical Center for further treatment of significant injuries. Bielke suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to be a factor in this collision. The investigation is continuing. Nature of Incident: Injury Traffic Accident |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, February 15th, 2012
Ventura County Sheriff's Department 02/07/12 to 02/13/12 |
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By Anonymous — Monday, February 13th, 2012
VENTURA, CA - 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. Givens had pleaded guilty to one count of felony possession of child pornography in November 2011. This matter was investigated by the Unites States Department of Homeland Security (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and forensic examiners assigned to the Southern California High Tech Task Force. Federal law enforcement authorities gained access to the records of a webmaster that trafficked in child pornography based out of Italy. Seized records showed that Givens had purchased child pornography videos. Undercover officers contacted Givens, who expressed a desire to buy more child pornography videos. In 2009, ICE agents interviewed Givens at his home in Camarillo. Givens allowed the agents access to his computers. Subsequent forensic examination revealed that Givens possessed more than 1,000 images of child pornography. He was also exploring the possibility of foreign travel to meet underage girls. In addition to the jail sentence, Givens was ordered to attend sexual offender counseling and to register as a sexual offender. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, February 13th, 2012
VENTURA, CA - 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. The prosecution of Sjostrom resulted from an investigation by the Simi Valley Police Department. Sjostrom was a friend of Francis J. Copland, who died in 2005. Before Copland died, he prepared a trust and a will, naming Sjostrom to administer both. In his estate documents, Copland left all of his property to family members. After Copland’s death, Sjostrom failed to probate Copland’s will and failed to properly account for Copland’s trust property. The probate court removed Sjostrom as trustee and ordered him to account for Copland’s property. Sjostrom filed a sworn declaration claiming Copland had exhausted his bank accounts when he died, but a successor trustee discovered this information was false. The trustee found that Copland had money in various accounts when he died and that Sjostrom methodically stole more than $250,000 from those accounts by means of check and ATM withdrawals. On February 13, 2012, Sjostrom was arrested and remains in custody with bail set at $200,000. Arraignment is set for February 14, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Division 12. If convicted of all charges Sjostrom faces up to 11 years in state prison. |
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By Anonymous — Monday, February 13th, 2012
VENTURA, CA - 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. The grant award derives from a stipulated judgment obtained by the California Attorney General’s Office in the case of the People of the State of California v. Countrywide Financial Corporation. Funds from this settlement are aimed at funding local county efforts to combat mortgage and foreclosure fraud. The grant application filed by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office was submitted to the California Attorney General’s Office in June 2011 and included letters of support from California Congresswoman Lois Capps, the Ventura County Bar Association, the Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors, the Ventura County Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team, and the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation. The grant application also included numerous letters of support from local victims of real estate fraud served by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit. This grant award will allow the District Attorney’s Office to continue its efforts to investigate and prosecute suspects victimizing county residents in fraudulent real estate deals and illegal schemes such as foreclosure rescue fraud. Funds from the 2012 Foreclosure Crisis Recovery Grant will provide the financial resources to staff one deputy district attorney, one district attorney investigator and one investigative assistant for one year. These positions are vitally important to the District Attorney’s aggressive approach to prosecuting real estate fraud occurring in Ventura County. Currently, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit is reviewing 55 cases and has over 104 cases pending investigation. |
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By Anonymous — Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
It Doesn’t Take a Fire to Burn a Child
Sacramento, CA – Across California thousands of people are burned every year in fires and countless lives are lost, including young children. During the week of February 5 – 11, 2012, CAL FIRE is teaming up with fire departments across the country to highlight the fire risks and burn injury prevention during the winter months for National Burn Awareness Week. This year fire officials are focusing on the increased risk to children for burn injuries and offer safety tips to keep them protected from burn injuries. Each year approximately 465 children ages 14 and under die due to unintentional fires or from burn related injuries, with children ages 3 and younger at the greatest risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2009 report from the American Burn Association indicates that the most common cause of hospitalizations to children under 5 years of ages is scald burns caused from hot liquids. Hot tap water accounts for nearly 1 in 4 of all scald burns among children and is associated with more deaths and hospitalizations than any other hot liquid burns. “These types of injuries are preventable and CAL FIRE and fire officials are determined to promote fire safe behaviors and decrease the number of burn injuries,” said Tonya Hoover, State Fire Marshal. “I hope parents use this week to talk with their children about fire and burn prevention at home as well as continue to keep children safe from burn injuries,” CAL FIRE reminds parents of these simple safety measures for protecting loved ones from burns: Reduce water temperature. Set your hot water heater to 120 degrees. Consider putting anti-scald devices (about $40) on each faucet and showerhead. Check the bath water with your wrist or elbow before placing your child in the tub. |
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By Ventura County District Attorneys Office — Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
VENTURA, CA - 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. Coffman was on parole when he met Tracy Clark. He falsely told her that he was wealthy and that his ex-wife had frozen his assets. Coffman convinced her to loan him more than $28,000, that she obtained through high-interest cash advances, because she believed him when he gave her promissory notes promising to quickly repay the money. Coffman also defrauded her out of more than $12,000 by fraudulently using her credit card. Two other women testified at trial that Coffman had also defrauded them using a similar scheme. A fourth victim, Claudette Siah, testified about how Coffman talked her into turning over her life savings to him in 2001. Coffman was convicted of embezzling from Ms. Siah, and has paid none of the $87,247 that he owes her. He was previously sent to state prison for three years for defrauding Ms. Siah. Judge Brian Back will sentence the defendant on March 1, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 47. Coffman faces a maximum of five years and four months in state prison, to be served locally. After the jury’s verdict, Coffman’s bail was revoked and he was held without bail. |
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By Ventura County District Attorneys Office — Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
VENTURA, CA - 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. Heath’s first two strike offenses occurred in 1977 when Heath, then a prospective member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Hells Angels, walked into the motorcycle shop of a rival Mongols gang member and delivered a bomb hidden in a motorcycle tire. The bomb later detonated, killing a 15-year-old boy and a 22-year-old man. Heath thereafter became a member of the Hells Angels and formed the Ventura chapter with George Christie. The murder case went unsolved for over a decade. Heath’s third and fourth strike offenses occurred in 1992 and Heath was convicted in Ventura County Superior Court of various felony crimes related to the brutal beating of his wife. He was sentenced to seven years in prison for those crimes. In 1994, Heath pled guilty to two counts of second degree murder for the 1977 murders and was sentenced to prison for seven years. On November 22, 2010, Heath was living in the city of Ventura with a female roommate. When the woman told him he needed to move out for not paying rent, he refused. When she told him she had called the police and that they were on their way to the residence, Heath threatened to kill the woman and her son. He then told her he was going to tell his fellow Hells Angels gang members that she was a “rat” for calling the police. Officers with the Ventura Police Department arrived at the residence and as the woman began to tell one officer about the threats, Heath interrupted her and threatened her again in the presence of the officer. Later, when questioned by the officers about the threats, Heath told the officers that he has killed people before and that when he wants to kill someone, he doesn’t threaten them, he just kills them. On December 16, 2011, a jury found Heath guilty of dissuading a witness, threatening a witness and street terrorism. Heath was also convicted of having committed four prior strike offenses. |
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By Ventura County District Attorneys Office — Wednesday, February 8th, 2012
VENTURA, CA - 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. The defendant pled guilty to one felony count of unlawful taking of a vehicle in violation of Penal Code section 10851 and one felony count of criminal threats in violation of Penal Code section 422. The charged incident took place on July 16, 2011, in the city of Ventura. After appearing uninvited at the home of the victim, whom he had been dating, Caples took the victim’s car without her permission. Caples proceeded to use text messages to threaten the victim and dissuade her from seeking the help of law enforcement. Officers with the Ventura Police Department conducted an investigation that ultimately led to Caples’ apprehension and arrest for the charges above. Today’s sentence was enhanced under California’s Three Strikes Law due to Caples’ 1996 conviction for robbery in Ventura County. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of eleven years and eight months in state prison. |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, February 6th, 2012
Ventura County Sheriff's Department On 2/4/12, a two-week investigation by the Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) resulted in the arrest of Travis Moller, Rafael Doval, Casey & Cassandra Kleopfer, Ian Speidel, and Ryan Behr. Moller was arrested for Possession of Heroin and rock Cocaine for sale, and sales and transportation of Heroin and Rock Cocaine. Doval, the Kleopfers, and Behr were arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Speidel was arrested for possession of controlled substance and under the influence of a controlled substance. All 6 subjects were taken into custody near Auto Mall Drive and S. Pierce Arrow Ave. Moller was found to be in possession of 2.5 grams of Heroin and 3.6 grams of rock Cocaine. All 6 subjects were booked into the Ventura County Jail. Nature of Incident: Narcotics Investigations |