Details of Camarillo hate crime still sparse




Three Camarillo residents and two Oxnard residents were arrested last month on suspicion of committing a hate crime targeting two unidentified victims, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s office issued a statement on the arrests Feb. 4.

Camarillo residents Sheila Hernandez, 43; Ernesto Marron, 27; and Javier Mascote, 25, and Oxnard residents George Perez and Andrew Worden, both 24, were arrested Jan. 14 on suspicion of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime and violation of civil rights.

Officials said deputies were called to the 1600 block of Chapel Drive around 8 p.m. Jan. 14 to break up what witnesses said looked and sounded like a fight.

When deputies arrived, the assailants had left.

Police said they were told by the victims and multiple witnesses that the assailants made derogatory comments about the victims’ ethnicity before beating them and taking a phone belonging to one of the victims.

Some of the attackers threatened the victims with knives, police said.

The attackers went to a nearby apartment, which police said is being rented by one of the suspects. After a short stand-off, deputies said, the suspects were taken into custody and booked at the Main Jail in Ventura.

Detective Jeff Jacobs could not say Monday afternoon what sex, age or ethnicity the victims were, nor which suspects were accused of pulling out knives during the assault.

Hernandez was charged with battery and violation of civil rights, while Perez was charged with robbery, according to court records.

Both have been released on bail bond. The other three suspects were released pending further investigation, according to police.

Witnesses are asked to call Jacobs at (805) 388-5115.