Charges Filed Against Downtown Ventura Crime Spree Suspect, But Criminal Case Put On Hold

Tuesday November 26, 2024

(File photo courtesy VPD)

     Updated--The Ventura County District Attorney's Office Tuesday filed a long list of charges against the man accused of going on a violent crime spree in downtown Ventura over the weekend.

     But the criminal case against 22-year-old Efrain Troncoso was immediately put on hold after his attorney declared a doubt as to whether his client was mentally competent to understand the charges against him and aid in his defense.

     Troncoso is charged with three counts of attempted murder, two counts of attempted second degree robbery, second degree robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, felony vandalism, and attempted auto theft.

     The crimes involved at least five victims at several locations in downtown Ventura in less than a half hour Saturday morning.

     Two people were stabbed, one hit with a metal pipe and robbed, another robbed at knifepoint, and another would have had their car stolen had officers not finally caught up with Troncoso and took him into custody at gunpoint.

     But Troncoso did not enter pleas and all that is on hold while a hearing is set for December 19th to determine his mental competency.

     He remains locked up with no chance of bail.

     Troncoso had a history of minor crimes both in his hometown of Moorpark and later in Ventura where he became what police described as a vagrant following his release from jail on his own recognizance after a November 7th arson and resisting arrest incident in Ventura.