Roundup: Oxnard man guilty in 2018 murder, Highway 23 victim named, more
Here's a roundup of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:
Oxnard man pleads guilty to 2018 murder
An Oxnard man pleaded guilty Tuesday to murdering his brother-in-law during a dispute in 2018, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Jonathon Fuentes, 26, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder during a hearing in Ventura County Superior Court regarding the death of Ryan Switzer, 33, of Oxnard. He also admitted to the special allegation that he personally used a gun in the crime.
The fatal shooting occurred the night of March 14, 2018, at a residence in the 300 block of Deodar Avenue. Fuentes was living at the residence with his sister and her husband when he shot Switzer during a dispute, killing him.
Fuentes is due to be sentenced at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 23 in courtroom 48. He is expected to be sentenced to 19 years to life in state prison, according to the DA's office.
Highway 23 crash victim identified
The Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office identified the victim in Sunday's fatal crash along Highway 23 as Mark Grisez, 61, of Thousand Oaks.
The crash occurred just after 11 p.m. Sunday on the southbound 23, south of the Janss Road exit, according to California Highway Patrol.
Grisez was driving a 2021 Subaru SUV when, for reasons under investigation, his vehicle veered into the dirt center median and collided with a guardrail. The vehicle fell off a drop-off point onto a bike path running along Paige Lane below the highway, flipping again before coming to rest on its wheels. Grisez was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Anyone with information for investigators can contact the Moorpark-area CHP office at 805-553-0800.
Alleged "bank jugging" suspects charged with robbery
Three members of a suspected International Theft Group were arrested Tuesday in connection with a cash theft in Thousand Oaks in September, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. They were subsequently charged by prosecutors.
The theft occurred on Sept. 23 in the 300 block of Giant Oak Avenue in Newbury Park.
The victims, a couple, had just withdrawn $10,000 in cash from a Wells Fargo branch, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. They were parked in the area when at least three suspects allegedly worked together to distract the female victim. During the coordinated effort, the cash was stolen from her vehicle.
Detectives recognized the incident as consistent with activities of organized groups known as South American or international theft groups.
The ploy, sometimes called “bank jugging,” involves multiple suspects staking out potential victims in bank parking lots and following them to their next destination to rob them, prosecutors said. Participants typically find an opportune moment or initiate a distraction to steal the cash.
Sheriff’s authorities identified three suspects believed to be connected to the crime. The suspects were two Los Angeles men, age 31 and 32, and a 45-year-old Anaheim man. Two were Colombian nationals and the third was from Mexico, prosecutors said.
On Tuesday, sheriff’s detectives found the three men parked in the lot of a Wells Fargo bank in El Monte, authorities said. All three were arrested.
On Friday, the three were charged by the DA's office with robbery. All three pleaded not guilty in Ventura County Superior Court.
The next court hearing is on Dec. 19. The three remained in jail custody in lieu with bail for each set at $200,000.
Stabbing incident under investigation in T.O.
Authorities in Thousand Oaks responded to a reported stabbing Thursday night on East Avenida de los Arboles, near the cross with Avenida de las Plantas.
Initial reports indicated a man had been stabbed at a liquor store around 6:30 p.m.
Ventura County Sheriff's deputies and county firefighters responded. The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital.
The assailant was said to still be at large as of 8:20 p.m., said Sgt. Peter Frank.
Reports from the scene indicated he may have left the scene in a black pickup truck.
The incident was still under active investigation as of 8:20 p.m., Frank said, with details in flux. The victim was believed to have suffered lacerations that were not life threatening.
Items may be updated.
Jeremy Childs is a general assignment reporter covering courts, crime and breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at 805-437-0208, jeremy.childs@vcstar.com, and on Twitter @Jeremy_Childs.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Roundup: Guilty plea in 2018 Oxnard murder, Highway 23 fatal crash ID
