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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).
News Story - Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested
| Nature of Incident: | Sexual Assault Suspect Arrested | ||||
| Report Number: | 22-122790 and 22-131023 | ||||
| Location: | 800 block of West Telegraph Road, Santa Paula | ||||
| Date & Time: | 9/30/2022 @ 1850 Hours | ||||
| Unit(s) Responsible: | Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit Sheriff’s Headquarters Investigations Unit Ventura Police Department Special Victims Unit |
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| (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age | |||
| (S) Eliel Mejia (V) Adult Female (V) Adult Female |
Santa Paula Ventura Ventura |
22 27 29 |
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| Narrative: | |||||
| On September 30, 2022, Ventura County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Eliel Mejia reference his involvement in two known sexual assaults that occurred within the unincorporated area of Ventura County. On September 13, 2022, Headquarters Patrol Station deputies responded to the 300 block of Hillmont Road in the city of Ventura for a sexual assault investigation. The adult female victim said she was standing outside a liquor store located on Ventura Avenue in the city of Ventura, when she was approached by Mejia. Mejia lured the victim into his white truck with his two pit bull dogs inside under the pretense of smoking marijuana. Mejia drove the victim to an orchard in the unincorporated area east of Ventura, where he forcefully sexually assaulted her. On September 29, 2022, Headquarters Patrol Station deputies responded to the 6000 block of Pacific Coast Highway in the unincorporated area of Ventura for a sexual assault investigation. Deputies contacted the adult female victim, who said she was at Plaza Park in the city of Ventura, when she was approached by Mejia. Mejia lured the victim into his white truck with his two pit bull dogs inside under the pretense of smoking marijuana. Mejia drove the victim to the dead end of a dirt road in the unincorporated area north of Ventura, where he threatened and assaulted her with the intent to commit a sexual assault. Mejia strangled, tased, and threatened to kill the victim while he was holding a knife. The victim was able to flee the area and was contacted by an officer of the California Highway Patrol. Sheriff’s Headquarters Investigations Unit detectives responded and believed the two cases involved the same suspect. The Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit and Headquarters detectives worked alongside the Ventura Police Department Special Victims Unit, who identified the suspect as Eliel Mejia of Santa Paula. Detectives located and arrested Mejia in the city of Santa Paula. During the arrest, Mejia was in possession of the taser believed to be used during the second assault. Detectives authored a search warrant for Mejia’s residence and vehicle where additional evidence was located. Mejia was arrested for charges related to the sexual assaults, assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal threats. Mejia was booked into the Ventura County Jail and is currently being held in custody on $500,000 bail. His arraignment was set for October 4, 2022, in Ventura County Superior Court. Mejia is described as a Hispanic male, 5’8” tall, weighing 180 pounds, with black hair, and brown eyes. Mejia’s truck is a white 1997 Dodge Ram extended cab truck with the California license plate number 84058H1. This investigation is currently ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office believes there could be additional victims. Anyone with information regarding Eliel Mejia or this case is encouraged to contact Detective Robert DeLaCerda of the Major Crimes Sexual Assault Unit at (805)384-4724. |
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| Prepared by: | Detective Nicole Grover |
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| News Release Date: | October 4, 2022 | ||||
| Media Follow-Up Contact: | Detective Rosalio Cobian (805)384-4723 [email protected] |
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| Approved by: Booking Photo Release: |
Captain Victor Medina YES NO |
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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).
Address/Location
Ventura County Sheriff's Office
800 S Victoria Ave
Ventura, CA 93003
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-654-9511