A Plea Deal Is Expected On The Unresolved Charges In A Ventura County Sexual Assault Case

Tuesday April 01, 2025

     Updated--According to court documents, it appears that a plea agreement has been reached that will avoid a retrial in a Ventura County sexual assault case where the jury failed to reach verdicts on some of the charges.

     Those unresolved charges included two counts of forcible rape.

     The jury in the first trial deadlocked on those charges and one other so a mistrial was declared.

     In the meantime, sentencing for 28-year-old Charles Gaines III of Colorado on the two counts where the jury did reach guilty verdicts has been on hold pending the retrial.

     Those guilty verdicts were attempted forcible rape and sodomy by force.

     The change of plea hearing is set for Friday.

     Gaines was charged in connection with the sexual assaults of 4 victims in both Simi Valley and Los Angeles.

     Prosecutors argued that DNA linked him to the crimes.

     Jury deliberations lasted for more than two weeks before the jury returned with the guilty verdicts on two counts but were hopelessly deadlocked on the three other charges.

     The judge then declared a mistrial on those three charges.

     Gaines remains in jail on no bail and will be back in court on April 4th.