Ventura County Sheriff's Department

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age

(V) Leming, Kaylee Thousand Oaks 18

(S) Mendoza, Jose Moorpark 19
(S) Castro, Julio Moorpark 20
(S) Male Juvenile Moorpark 17

On 08-14-2008 at about 11:25 P.M., Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies assigned to the Moorpark Police Department responded to the 13000 block of Quail Summit in regards to a robbery that had occurred about five minutes previously at Peach Hill Park. The victim reported that as she was walking through the park with friends they were approached by three male Hispanics who, after asking for a cigarette, pulled a knife and demanded her purse. The victim was carrying a digital camera and quickly took a picture of the suspects who, after continuing to threaten the victim and her friends with the knife, completed the robbery by taking the purse and the camera.

Deputies began searching the area and located three males matching the description in the greenbelt area near Laurelhurst Road. Jose Mendoza and Julio Castro were taken into custody at that location. The male juvenile fled on foot but was located a few minutes later by other deputies near Quail Summit and Fireside Lane.

The victim and witnesses positively identified the suspects. All of the stolen property was recovered and the knife was located near the suspects. When reviewing the photographs on the camera deputies found that one of the last photographs taken was that of two males attempting to cover their faces with their clothing. The clothing worn by Julio Castro and Jose Mendoza matched the clothing worn by the two males depicted in the photograph.

The juvenile was booked into the Ventura County Juvenile Detention Center while the two adults were booked into the Ventura County Jail. Their bail was set at $200,000.00.

The juvenile was charged with Penal Code Section 211, Robbery and Penal Code Section 186.22, Participating in a Criminal Street Gang.

Julio Castro was charged with Penal Code Section 211, Robbery and Penal Code Section 186.22, Participating in a Criminal Street Gang.

Jose Mendoza was charged with Penal Code Section 211, Robbery, Penal Code Section 148.9, Giving false information to a peace officer and Penal Code Section 186.22, Participating in a Criminal Street Gang.