n collaboration with Farm Watch, the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation communicated crime trends identified from recent agricultural thefts occurring in the Santa Clara Valley. Empowering the agricultural community as our eyes and ears has contributed to the apprehension of an agricultural theft group.

On 06/09/2024, deputies assigned to the Fillmore Patrol Station responded to a call-for-service at a local ranch reference an avocado theft. The reporting party provided Sheriff’s Dispatch detailed information, which led to patrol resources locating the suspect vehicle fleeing the area. An enforcement stop was conducted on the vehicle, which was determined to be occupied by several individuals; all of which resided out of the area in Norwalk, CA.

A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of hundreds of pounds of stolen avocados. David Melchor, Jesus Pozos, Valentin Pozos, and Epifania Pozos were arrested for felonious violations of Penal Code § 487(b)(1)(a) – [Agricultural Grand Theft] and 182(a)(1) – [Criminal Conspiracy]. They were also arrested for Penal Code § 602.8(a) – [Trespassing]. The stolen avocados were returned to the ranch while all four subjects were booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility pending court proceedings.

The Fillmore Patrol Station encourages the agricultural community to utilize “Farm Watch,” a partnership between the farming community and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Farm Watch is a county-wide electronic neighborhood watch program that is distributed to more than several hundred farms, ranches, nurseries, and supply houses. This program provides information to ranchers on agriculture crime trends and on how to react and treat the crime scene so that potential evidence is preserved for immediate processing by deputies of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

Report Number: 24-70748
Location 3000 Block of Telegraph Road, Unincorporated Fillmore
Date & Time: 06/09/2024 @ 2:40 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Serivces

(S)uspects:

(S) David Melchor Norwalk, CA 18
(S) Jesus Pozos Norwalk, CA 23
(S) Valentin Pozos Norwalk, CA 33
(S) Epifania Pozos Norwalk, CA 37

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

Enlarge Photo

On 05/28/2024, a robbery occurred in the 600 block of Ventura Street in Fillmore. At approximately 12:30 PM, a male walked into the Wells Fargo Bank, located in the 600 block of Ventura Street in Fillmore, and handed the bank teller a note demanding money. After a short time of engaging in communication with the teller, the suspect fled the location on foot.
Fillmore patrol deputies along with Fillmore detectives responded to the location and initiated an investigation. For the next two days, Fillmore detectives collaborated with detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau in an effort to identify the suspect.

On 05/31/2024, deputies from the Fillmore police station contacted a subject matching the attempt-robbery suspect’s description. The suspect was identified as Jair Camarena. Fillmore detectives responded to assist and located evidence linking Camarena to the attempt-robbery from Wells Fargo Bank on 05/28/2024.

On 05/31/2024, during the afternoon hours, resources from the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation and Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau executed a search warrant at Camarena’s residence located in the 200 block of Village Square in Fillmore. As a result of the search warrant, additional evidence linking Camarena to the crime was located.

Camarena was arrested for a violation of Penal Code 664-211 [Attempt-Robbery] and subsequently booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility (PTDF) pending court proceedings.

Nature of Incident: Arrest of Robbery Suspect
Report Number: 24-65378
Location: 600 Block of Ventura Street, Fillmore
Date & Time: 05/28/2024, 12:30 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol, Fillmore Bureau of Investigation, Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent
V) Wells Fargo Bank Fillmore
(S) Jair Camarena Fillmore 19

Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
Approved by: Captain Victor Medina

Barry Don Fike Fillmore

VENTURA, Calif. – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Barry Don Fike
(DOB 09/05/55), of Fillmore, pled guilty on May 29, 2024, to two felony counts: sending harmful
matter to a child, and arranging a meeting with a minor for a lewd purpose.

The Ventura County Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force arrested Fike on
July 17, 2023. The investigation began July 10, 2023, when Fike started communicating online
with what he believed to be a 15-year-old girl. The conversations were sexual in nature and Fike
shared explicit photos of himself with the victim, who was actually an undercover officer.
The chatroom Fike communicated in did not have any safety features in place to verify a person’s
age or to monitor the communication.

Fike was a minister at Fillmore Church of Christ, and previously taught at Oaks Christian High
School and Pepperdine University.

Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
Sexual Assault Unit, prosecuted the case.

"This case is a powerful reminder for parents to stay vigilant in protecting their children online.”
Mr. Moreno said. “The defendant was a minister and teacher, showing that no one is above
suspicion and trust should not be given lightly when it comes to our children.”
Fike is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 11 of the Ventura
County Superior Court.

Date: May 31, 2024
Release No.: 24-064
Case: 2023018280
Defendant Information:
Barry Don Fike (DOB 09/05/55)
Fillmore

Charges pled to:
• PC 288.2(a)(2) – Sending harmful matter
• PC 288.3(a) – Luring; Arranging meeting with minor for lewd purpos

On Monday, June 3, at 1:30pm, the Sheriff’s Bomb Squad Arson Investigator assisted the Ventura County Fire Department Arson Investigators with a brush fire near the Lake Piru Dam. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined but does not appear to be criminal in nature. Although the recent rains have brought about a lush landscape, as the weather begins to warm up, the chances of a large brush fire greatly increase. Please be especially careful when it comes to sparks and open flames near dry plant life. Let’s do everything we can to protect Ventura County this fire season! Photo credit VCsheriff_bombsquad Instagram.