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

Wednesday June 05, 2024

(Photos courtesy VCDA)

    Updated--A man convicted in a series of sexually-related crimes in Ventura County over several years is sentenced to spend what amounts to the rest of his life behind bars.

     On May 2nd, a Ventura County jury found 42-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.

     At the sentencing hearing, the court heard victim impact statements.

     The judge then sentenced Rodriguez Ruelas to 32-years-to-life in prison, plus 21 years.