VENTURA, CA - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Judge Charles Campbell sentenced Thanh Van Jensen (DOB 8/16/1960), of Simi Valley, to a term of 33 years to life in state prison for committing assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury, with the special allegation that Jensen personally inflicted great bodily injury. The victim of both charges was Jensen’s sister. Jensen was sentenced pursuant to California’s Three Strikes Law having previously been convicted of the forcible rape of a child and child molestation. Jensen received the maximum sentence possible under the law.

On March 12, 2016, the victim and Jensen lived with their mother in the City of Simi Valley. The victim and Jensen got into an argument after the victim discovered that Jensen had left the toilet seat up in a bathroom the two shared. During the argument, Jensen became enraged and began punching the victim repeatedly in the face causing her eye to become swollen shut. The victim fled downstairs and attempted to dial 911 when Jensen attacked her a second time, disconnecting the call before police could be dispatched. The attack continued until Jensen’s mother intervened and Jensen retreated back upstairs. When officers arrived on scene, Jensen told them that his sister had gotten what she deserved. The victim suffered from multiple injuries including a subdural hematoma, commonly known as bleeding on the brain.

On August 25, 2016, a jury convicted Jensen of one count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, and one count of battery causing serious bodily injury. The jury also found true a special allegation that Jensen personally inflicted great bodily injury upon the victim.