Man Convicted Of Series Of Sexually-Related Crimes In Ventura County Facing Life In Prison

Tuesday May 07, 2024

(Photos courtesy VCDA)

    Updated--A man convicted in a series of sexually-related crimes in Ventura County over several years is now facing the rest of his life in prison when he is sentenced in June.

     On May 2nd, a Ventura County jury found 41-year-old Edgar Rodriguez-Ruelas of Woodland Hills guilty of five counts involving sexually-related and attempted sexually-related attacks during burglaries in homes and on hiking trails primarily in the Thousand Oaks and Oak Park areas in 2017 and 2020.

     He was also considered a suspect in sexually-related burglaries in Ventura in 2016.

     In a separate proceeding following the guilty verdicts, the same jury on May 7th found true special allegations that the victims were vulnerable, that the crimes showed planning and sophistication, that his conduct presented a serious danger to society, and that some of the crimes were committed during a burglary.

     They found not true several special allegations that the crimes involved great violence.

     Rodriguez-Ruelas remains in the Ventura County Jail being held without bail.

     He is due back in court June 5th to face a sentence of 32-year-to-life in prison plus an additional 21 years.