VENTURA, CA - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Ventura resident Eric Wayne Caples (DOB 7/24/78) was sentenced by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Ryan Wright to seven years and four months in state prison. The defendant pled guilty to one felony count of unlawful taking of a vehicle in violation of Penal Code section 10851 and one felony count of criminal threats in violation of Penal Code section 422.

The charged incident took place on July 16, 2011, in the city of Ventura. After appearing uninvited at the home of the victim, whom he had been dating, Caples took the victim’s car without her permission. Caples proceeded to use text messages to threaten the victim and dissuade her from seeking the help of law enforcement. Officers with the Ventura Police Department conducted an investigation that ultimately led to Caples’ apprehension and arrest for the charges above.

Today’s sentence was enhanced under California’s Three Strikes Law due to Caples’ 1996 conviction for robbery in Ventura County. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of eleven years and eight months in state prison.