Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Ventura County Government Center
Date: January 16, 2009

Unit Responsible: Detention Services – Classification Unit & Major Crimes & Narcotics Units

(V)ictims, Address, Age
Briones, Gilbert, Moorpark, CA, 26

(S)uspects, Address, Charge, Age
Morales, Johnny Mejia, Oxnard, CA, 192(b) PC – Involuntary Manslaughter, 32
11352(a) H&S – Sales of Narcotics
11550(a) H&S – Under the Influence

On September 3, 2008, Gilbert Briones was an inmate in the Ventura County Jail. At approximately 1:50 P.M. a deputy conducting cell checks found Briones unresponsive and not breathing. First aid was administered. Briones was transported to the hospital for advanced emergency care. After arriving at the hospital, Briones was pronounced dead. The Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the cause of death an overdose (Acute Morphine (Heroin) Intoxication).

After a thorough investigation by the Detention Services Classification Unit and Sheriff’s Major Crimes, Johnny Morales, who was also an inmate at the time of Briones’ death, was identified as the suspect. It is the investigators’ belief that Morales provided Briones with the narcotics that resulted in his death.

On January 13, 2009, Morales was arrested while in the Ventura County Courthouse for an unrelated matter.

On January 14, 2009, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed the above charges on Morales. Morales remains in custody with bail set at $90,000. His next court appearance is January 26, 2009 at 1:30 P.M. in Courtroom 12.