By Michael Torres

Nov. 9, 2024. Antelope Valley, CA — The American Grappling Federation (AGF) Antelope Valley Open, held at the Antelope Valley Fair and Events Center, was a thrilling showcase of skill and determination, with the Fillmore Jiu-Jitsu Club making a remarkable impact. Under the coaching of Professor Michael Torres, a Gracie Humaita Black Belt trained by Mario Aiello, several young athletes represented their club with outstanding performances.

Mateo De La Cruz, competing in the gray and white belt division, put forth an impressive display, earning a silver medal. Mateo’s strategic grappling and effective techniques caught the attention of both coaches and spectators alike, as he also claimed an additional silver medal in the no-gi division, solidifying his status on the winner’s podium.

Maya Ramirez, another white belt competitor, showcased her skill and determination throughout the tournament. She was rewarded with a silver medal in her division. In addition to her gi success, Maya also secured a silver medal in the no-gi division, highlighting her versatility and adaptability on the mat.
Jacob Ramirez, competing in the gray and white belt category, matched his teammates’ success with a silver medal of his own.

Rounding out the team’s achievements was Aiden Ramirez, who earned a bronze medal in both the gi and no-gi divisions. Aiden’s determination and skill were evident as he navigated his matches, showcasing the spirit of sportsmanship and perseverance.

Torres expressed immense pride in his students’ accomplishments. “These young athletes have worked incredibly hard. I’m proud of each one of them for their performances this weekend,” he stated. “Every medal earned is a testament to their effort and the supportive environment we cultivate in training.”
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on ground fighting and submission grappling techniques, emphasizing the use of leverage and technique to control and submit opponents. The students train out of Perce’s Kenpo Karate studio off of Highway 126 which offers classes for adults and kids throughout the week. For more information call or text Professor Torres at 805-443-8501 or email fillmorebjj@gmail.com.

By Richard Chang

FILLMORE, Calif. (Nov. 25, 2024) — California United FC 2016 Boys team clinched the Coast Soccer League Division 2 North title on Sunday with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Oxnard FC in the season finale at Fillmore Middle School.

Entering the match tied atop the standings with 25 points each, the stakes were clear: a win would secure first place for either side, while a draw would give Oxnard FC the title. California United delivered under pressure, with Fabian Cabrera scoring the decisive goal in the first half off a pinpoint assist from Rex Masterson.

Goalkeeper Kevin Ponce was instrumental in the victory, recording a clean sheet with multiple critical saves to keep Oxnard off the board. The shutout marked another highlight in Ponce’s impressive season, solidifying his reputation as one of the league’s top goalkeepers.

California United’s success this season has been guided by an experienced and dedicated coaching staff, including Head Coach Miguel Martinez, Assistant Head Coach Josue Garcia, and Assistant Coach Javier Alcaraz. Their leadership and tactical acumen have been pivotal in developing the team’s strong chemistry and resilience.

With the victory, California United finishes the season with 28 points (9-2-1), edging out Oxnard FC, which ends with 25 points (8-3-1). Oxnard United SC placed third with 23 points (7-3-2), followed by Farwest United at 23 points (7-3-2).

California United’s season was also marked by individual accolades, with Ponce being named Player of the Month for September and Masterson earning the honor in October. League officials will announce the November Player of the Month and Player of the Year awards next week.

“It was a total team effort,” said California United head coach Miguel Martinez. “We’ve worked all season for this, and to see it come down to a performance like today is incredibly rewarding. I’m so proud of these players.”

California United now looks ahead to 2025 with momentum, eager to build on their league title and continue their strong form.

Pictured top left is House/Case Manager Brandi Brown, introducing visitors to the Tender Life program. The evening hosted an open house of the newly remodeled home and property. Photo credit Gazette Staff.
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Above are visitors to the Meet & Greet enjoying refreshments in the backyard of the Tender Life home. Included in the crowd were Fillmore Mayor Carrie Broggie, newly-elected Councilman Gary Cushing, and Tender Life Board of Director members Tim and Amy Gurrola. Photo credit Gazette Staff.
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On Friday, November 15th, Tender Life held a Maternity Meet & Greet at its new home in the 200 block of Fillmore Street. The open house drew over a hundred supporters and is a welcomed addition to the Fillmore community. The event was well attended by many from in and out of the community. Tender Life Mission Statement: “Tender Life is a Christ-Centered ministry ensuring life for unborn children by providing opportunities for housing, help and hope for women during their pregnancies and beyond. Since 1985, Tender Life has offered a safe place to transform lives in a judgment-free home where you can pause, regroup, and redirect your life. We’ll meet you where you are, equip you to overcome your unique challenges, and help you choose the best path going forward for you and your baby.” www.tenderlifematernity.org.

Deputies from the Fillmore and Camarillo Sheriff’s Stations worked together to locate and rescue a fourteen-year-old victim from a motel in Camarillo.

On November 12, 2024, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a fourteen-year-old girl who was absent from her school in Fillmore. School Resource Officer’s responded to the call for service and discovered, through a cellular phone tracking application, that the victim was at a motel in the city of Camarillo. This information was quickly relayed to the deputies in Camarillo who responded to the local motel.

Once at the motel, deputies began to review surveillance footage and observed the victim at the location with an unknown male. As deputies were ascertaining what room the victim and unknown male were in, they observed the two in a vehicle in the parking lot. The victim and unknown male, later identified as Salvador Heredia Sanchez, were detained in the parking lot. Sanchez who is twenty-nine years old, was taken into custody and transported to the Camarillo Police Station. The victim was evaluated by medical professionals and reunited with her family.

The investigation revealed the victim met Sanchez through a social media application. They had been communicating through social media for about two weeks prior to planning to meet in person. The victim willingly went with Sanchez. Sanchez used typical grooming techniques when communicating with the victim. The Major Crimes Bureau Sexual Assault Unit, in conjunction with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Crime Analysis Unit, are working on notifying surrounding agencies about this investigation as Sanchez has no ties to Ventura County.

The Major Crimes Bureau Sheriff’s Office Sexual Assault Unit is committed to the safety of our community’s youth. The overwhelming access afforded to young people online can be overwhelming and is opportunistic to sexual predators. Information about online safety is available from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org. Age-appropriate education presentations are available as well as multiple other educational topics related to the safety of our youth. Talk to your kids about safety on-line.

Sanchez was booked into the Ventura County Jail for violations of California Penal Code (PC) 261.5(c), Unlawful Sex with a Minor, PC 272(a)(1), Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, PC 288(c)(1), Lewd Act Upon a Child, PC 288.3(a), Luring. Sanchez’ bail is set at $250,000.00. His next court appearance is November 14, 2024.

Report Number: 24-143299
Location: City of Fillmore and City of Camarillo
Date: November 12, 2024
Unit(S) Responsible: Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau, Camarillo Patrol Serivces, Crime Analysis Unit

(S)uspect(s),Victim(s):

(S) Salvador Heredia Sanchez Lompoc, CA 29
(V) Female juvenile Fillmore, CA 14

Prepared by: Detective Chris Dyer
Approved by: Captain Victor Medina

(VENTURA, Calif. — Nov. 14, 2024) The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is offering $1.5 million in grants for organizations to install and operate electric vehicle chargers along the Highway 126 corridor.

The 126 Corridor EV Chargers Incentive Program is designed to improve air quality in Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru and support the transition to EVs by providing much-needed chargers along the heavily trafficked route.

On-road vehicles are a major source of Ventura County air pollution, especially near major roadways. The harmful pollutants they emit include nitrogen oxides, which react with sunlight to form ozone, and fine particulate matter. The county exceeds state and federal standards for ozone, or smog.

An average of up to 106,000 passenger cars and 67,000 heavy-duty trucks traveled along Highway 126 daily in 2022, according to Caltrans. This impacts the residents of Santa Paula, Fillmore and Piru, areas that are designated as low-income and disproportionately affected by air pollutants by the California Climate Investments program.

The grants are available to public and private entities located in Ventura County including government agencies, school districts, colleges, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Projects that provide public access to chargers will receive priority consideration.

Public entities and any plans that provide public access are eligible for grants covering up to 100% of costs. Private projects that do not provide public access can receive grants for up to 85% of costs. Requests for less than maximum grant amounts will receive priority, though.

The chargers must be available at cost to the public or the organization’s employees for at least the term of the grant, which can range from three to eight years. Longer grant terms will receive priority. The chargers must be level 2 or higher.

Eligible expenditures include charging equipment and the costs of building, installation, design, engineering, consulting and fees. Grants also can cover software, card readers, specialized tools and three years of operational costs not including regular maintenance. Projects that expand or enhance existing chargers to improve efficiency or safety also are eligible.

The district is funding the program with a portion of the $6-per-vehicle registration fee surcharges it receives from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Since 1991, the district has used this money for cost-effective projects that reduce vehicle emissions as part of its mission to protect public health and agriculture in Ventura County from air pollution.

For additional details and applications, visit vcapcd.org/126-Corridor-EV.htm. For more information, contact Holly Galbreath at holly@vcapcd.org or 805-303-3666.

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Karin Grennan
Public Information Officer
Ventura County Air Pollution Control District

Ventura Sheriff’s Office partners with Ventura County Fire Department in Spark of Love Holiday Toy Drive.

The Ventura Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Ventura County Fire Department in their holiday toy drive. Collection boxes will be located at all sheriff stations. This community campaign is to collect new, unwrapped toys and sports equipment for underserved children and teens in Ventura County. In addition, this campaign is also to support Food Share, to help fight hunger in Ventura County. All non-perishable food and toys can be dropped off any time prior to December 16th.

In 2023, through generous donations from our communities, more than 33,000 local children and teens benefited from the kindness of our community members, businesses, and supporting sponsors. Food Share will also provide food for families served by the toy drive.

Nature of Incident: Sheriff’s Office Participates in Holiday Toy Drive
Report Number: N/A
Location: All Sheriff Stations
Date & Time: N/A
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Public Information

Prepared by: Captain Rob Yoos
News Release Date: 11/19/2024

Photo credit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

On November 8th, 2024, the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation concluded an investigation with the arrests of (S) Alexander Rocha (DOB: 02/13/2001) and (S) Montavious Harriel (DOB: 07/31/2000) who were involved with fraud and forgery crimes which victimized residents of Ventura County for thousands of dollars. The individuals were taken into custody following an extensive investigation by the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation.

Alexander Rocha and Montavious Harriel are accused of engaging in fraudulent activities involving financial document forgery. Detectives with the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation became aware of such activities when a victim reported a crime earlier this year. After a lengthy investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant which was executed in October 2024, in the 4200 block of Nimitz Drive in Oxnard. During the warrant service, detectives located and seized additional evidence related to fraud and forgery.

Additionally, several illegal firearms were located and seized, including assault weapons. Alexander Rocha was subsequently arrested for violations of Penal Code § 470 – [Forgery], Penal Code § 25850(a) – [Carrying a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle], and Penal Code § 30605(a) – [Possession of an Assault Weapon]. He was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility pending court proceedings.

On 11/08/2024, detectives with the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation and the West County Special Enforcement Unit executed a secondary search warrant in the 200 block of N 2nd Street in Port Hueneme. During the warrant, additional evidence of fraud and forgery was found in Montavious Harriel’s possession. Harriel was arrested for Penal Code § 470(a) – [Forgery] and transported to the Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he was booked for the offense. Harriel was later released on his own recognizance pending court proceedings.

The arrests of both Alexander Rocha and Montavious Harriel reflect the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office commitment to protecting citizens and businesses from financial crimes. The Fillmore Bureau of Investigation encourage community members to remain vigilant against fraud and to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.

Report Number: 24-4892
Location: 4200 block of Nimitz Drive, Oxnard
200 block of N 2nd Street, Port Hueneme
Date & Time: November 8th, 2024, at 3:00 P.M.
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Bureau of Investigation, West County Special Enforcement Unit

Suspect:
(S) Alexander Rocha Oxnard 23
(S) Montavious Harriel Port Hueneme 24

Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon