Roundup: T.O. man charged with child porn, sex crimes; murder suspect denied bail, more

Here's a roundup of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:

Newbury Park man, 19, charged with child porn and sex crimes

THOUSAND OAKS — A 19-year-old Newbury Park man has been arrested and charged with multiple felony offenses involving child pornography and sex acts involving two minors, one from Ojai.

Authorities believe there may be even more victims.

Connor Joseph Kerns was arrested Tuesday after detectives served a search warrant at his home in the 400 block of Fallbrook Avenue, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office is contracted to provide police services in Thousand Oaks.

The arrest followed an initial investigation into Kerns' alleged interactions last July with a girl in Ojai, where the sheriff's office also provides police services.

Authorities say Kerns tricked the minor into sending child sexual abuse material over social media. The girl sent nude images and sex videos, according to sheriff's officials. The suspect offered to pay for the material and also allegedly blackmailed the girl into sending more by threatening to make public the images he'd received.

He then reportedly posed as a hacker, claiming through a fictitious account he'd hacked into Kerns' account. As the phony hacker, he coerced the girl to take part in sex acts with Kerns by threatening to leak the nude photos and other material, according to the sheriff's account.

Kerns eventually convinced the girl to meet him in person, when officials say he "extorted" her for sex acts and more pornographic material.

Kerns was interviewed by sheriff's detectives during the initial investigation. As the probe was underway, authorities received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about two other possible victims. Both are juvenile females, one in Los Angeles County and one in Tennessee, who were reportedly contacted by Kerns under circumstances similar to the Ojai case.

Sheriff's Detective Rosalio Cobian said Wednesday evening that after investigators learned of the other potential victims, they moved quickly to make an arrest.

On Thursday, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office filed eight felony charges against Kerns involving two victims. Charges include forcible rape, using a minor for sex acts and forcible penetration of a victim younger than 14. Prosecutors also filed special enhancements for a vulnerable victim and a victim younger than 14, among others, court records show. One victim was younger than 14 and the other 14 or older, the filings indicate.

An arraignment hearing in Ventura County Superior Court Thursday afternoon was continued without a plea being entered. Kerns appeared via Zoom. The arraignment will resume on the afternoon of July 6 in courtroom 13.

Two protective orders barring contact with the victims were also filed Thursday.

The DA's complaint alleges Kerns used duress to get the two girls to engage in commercial sex acts and also alleges he forcibly raped one and forcibly digitally penetrated both, prosecutors said in a release Friday.

The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security along with the Ventura County Sheriff's agency, prosecutors said.

A bail review hearing was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in courtroom 13. As of Saturday evening, Kerns remained in Ventura County jail in lieu of $1.1 million bail.

Sheriff's officials said Wednesday they believe there could be additional victims. They asked anyone with information to call Detective Cobian with the major crimes unit at 805-384-4723.

Murder suspect denied bail

VENTURA COUNTY — A Camarillo man charged with murder after his mother's dismembered remains were found in a dumpster this month was denied bail during a hearing in Ventura County Superior Court Thursday afternoon.

At the bail review hearing for David Makato Hoetzlein, 25, prosecutors sought to have him remain in custody pending trial.

Judge Nancy Ayers approved the motion based on a potential threat to public safety.

"If he's willing to do that to someone who gave birth to him and purportedly raised him, then he is at danger of doing that to members of the public," Ayers said during the hearing.

Hoetzlein appeared via Zoom during the hearing.

The remains of his mother, Tomoko Hoetzlein, 62, were found June 3 in a dumpster outside the apartment they shared in the 300 block of Townsite Promenade in Camarillo. He was arrested that day by Ventura County Sheriff's detectives who found him alone in the apartment.

The cause of death was strangulation, according to the Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office.

No plea has yet been entered. A previously continued arraignment is set to resume on the afternoon of June 30 in courtroom 13.

Woman allegedly ran over ex on purpose

VENTURA — A 47-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly running over her former partner in Ventura Sunday night.

Authorities responded shortly before 8 p.m. to reports of a hit-and-run in a cul-de-sac in the 300 block of South Dunning Street, according to the Ventura Police Department. The area is west of the Pacific View mall and east of Main Street.

When officers arrived, they found a 54-year-old woman lying in the street, authorities said.

The suspect allegedly ran the victim over with her sedan after an altercation, according to police. The collision caused life-threatening injuries to the victim, while the suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Ventura County Medical Center where she remained in in critical condition as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Sgt. Joe Munger.

Investigators determined the two women were formerly in a romantic relationship that ended recently, Munger said.

The suspect was arrested Tuesday and booked into Todd Road Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Thefts of Chevy, GMC trucks soar

OXNARD — Oxnard Police Department officials said they've seen an increase in the number of full-size Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks stolen this year.

Since January, 25 Chevy Silverados and six GMC Sierras have been reported stolen, the agency said Wednesday.

The department's auto theft investigators found evidence indicating thieves have found a way to defeat the trucks' ignition system. The stolen trucks are likely being driven to the Los Angeles area, where they are being dismantled, authorities said. Most have had catalytic converters removed.

Officials urged residents to always lock their vehicles avoid leaving any hidden keys, including valet keys. Various anti-theft devices can also be effective.

If you have information about stolen vehicles or other criminal activity, you can call Oxnard police at 805-385-7600.

Items may be updated if more information becomes available.

Cytlalli Salgado is a breaking news reporter for the Ventura County Star. She can be reached by calling 805-437-0257 or emailing cytlalli.salgado@vcstar.com.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Newbury Park man arrested on suspicion of child porn, more county news