Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On February 10, 2023, a patrol deputy assigned to the Fillmore patrol station arrested a documented Fresno gang member for illegal possession of a loaded firearm and possession of methamphetamine. A second suspect was also arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

At approximately 3:30 AM, a Fillmore patrol deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for expired registration traveling in the 700 block of Ventura Street in the city of Fillmore. The vehicle was occupied by three Fresno County residents.

Upon contacting the driver, Suezann Dresser, the deputy determined she was under the influence of a controlled substance and she was placed under arrest.

The front passenger was identified as Jonathan Hernandez. During the ensuing investigation, Hernandez was arrested for being in possession of a loaded and concealed .22 caliber handgun and a small quantity of methamphetamine. Hernandez is a documented Fresno gang member and is prohibited by law from possessing or owning any firearms. The third occupant in the vehicle was released from the scene.

Hernandez was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trail Detention Facility on various firearms and narcotics violations. Hernandez remains in custody with his bail set at $50,000.00

Dresser was also booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trail Detention Facility for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining the safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately report suspicious people and vehicles, and to promptly report any crime they come across by calling 911. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes.

Report Number: 23-18486
Location: 700 Block of Ventura Street / Fillmore Ca.
Date & Time: February 10, 2023 @ 3:30 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S-1) Jonathan Hernandez, 36, Fresno
(S-2) Suezann Dresser, 36, Fresno
Prepared by: Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

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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Courtesy FHS Boys Basketball Coach Mark Blankenship

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, Fillmore vs. Mary Star, first round of DIV 5AA playoff game, played at Fillmore. Fillmore-54, Mary Star of the Sea-49. Leading for Fillmore: Jack Morris, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block, 4 steals; Isaac Weslow, 17 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals; Nate Delgadillo, 7 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 steals; Jacob Munoz, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal.

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Friday, February 10, 2023, Fillmore vs. Loara, Second round of Division 5AA CIF playoffs, played at Loara. Fillmore 36 - Loara 42, Played at Loara. Leading for Fillmore: Nate Delgadillo, 16 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block; Mahki Hooker, 6 points,3 rebounds 1 steal; Jacob Munoz, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal; Isaac Weslow, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks. Fillmore fell short to Loara, but finished the 2023 season 13-12.

Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

When most people think about the beginnings of the history of the Piru (originally pronounced "Pea-roo") area, they go back to 1887 when David Cook of Chicago bought the Rancho Temescal land grant from the Del Valle family and platted the town. Some more informed might go a little further back to when Benjamin Warring traded a pistol for the Buckhorn Ranch. Both would be missing a great deal of the area’s history and interesting stories.

Join Michelle Ybarra McKinley as she takes us back to the time of the Tataviams, the indigenous people who greeted the Portola Expedition in 1769, painting a picture of their life prior to the arrival of the Europeans.

She will tell of the people who settled the area, from Juan Fustero, the saddle maker, the Dominguez family, the Reasoners and others who settled the hills and canyons around Piru.

The Fillmore Historical Museum and Michelle McKinley will share these stories on Zoom on February 23, at 7:00 pm. There is no charge for the event, but you need to preregister to receive the meeting information. You can register now by going to the “Special Events” tab on our website, www.fillmorehistoricalmuseum.org

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that a guilty plea was entered by Juventino Reyes Guerrero (DOB 09/11/78), of Piru, for his role in working with an illegal wildlife poaching group, known as the “E-Bike Crew.”

Reyes Guerrero, the operator of Fish & Wildlife licensing equipment located at Lizette’s Market in Piru, pled guilty on Monday, January 30, 2023, to six felonies, including two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime and four counts of filing a false or forged document.

Reyes Guerrero is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court, where he is expected to receive 180 days in the Ventura County Jail and a lifetime ban operating state computers, such as the one in Lizette’s Market for printing hunting tags.

“The defendant abused the licensing systems and helped to orchestrate illegal killings of local wildlife,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “His actions endangered our environment, and as a consequence of his guilty plea, he will have a lifetime ban from issuing hunting tags and licenses.”

Martin Bravo Sr. (DOB 04/14/63), of Oxnard, Martin M. Bravo (DOB 05/13/92), of Oxnard, Walfre Lopez y Lopez (DOB 06/14/84), of Oxnard, Gilberto Lopez Hernandez (DOB 02/15/88), of Thousand Oaks, Jaime Mendoza Avila (DOB 10/02/81), of Porterville, and Cristian Lopez Perez (DOB 02/11/91), of Los Angeles, are the six charged members of the “E-Bike Crew” wildlife trafficking organization (WTO).

California Department of Fish & Wildlife investigated the “E-Bike Crew” discovering that they worked with Reyes Guerrero to fraudulently reprint hunting licenses and tags.

“This guilty plea is a testament to the intensive and thorough investigation on the part of our wildlife officers in combination with support from the Ventura District Attorney’s Office investigators and prosecutors,” said David Bess, Chief of the Law Enforcement Division and Deputy Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

An early disposition conference for the six WTO members is scheduled for April 6, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

Defendant Information:
Juventino Reyes Guerrero (DOB 09/11/78), Piru
Charges Pled Guilty to:
• (2 counts) PC 182 (a)(1) – Conspiracy to commit a crime
• (4 counts) PC 115(a) - Filing a false or forged document