Santa Paula Man Charged With Sexual Assaults Of Two Ventura Women

Wednesday October 05, 2022

(Photos courtesy VCSO)

     A Ventura County man has been charged with the sexual assaults of two Ventura women and sheriff's investigators believed there might me more.

    22-year-old Eliel Mejia of Santa Paula has pleaded not guilty to two counts of Assault with Intent to Commit Rape and he has denied several allegations.

     Detectives say on September 13th a woman in her '20s reported she was standing outside of a liquor store on Ventura Avenue when she was approached by a man who lured her into his white pickup truck with two pit bull dogs inside under the pretense of smoking marijuana.

     She said he drove to an orchard in an unincorporated areas to the east of the city where he forcefully sexually assaulted her.

     On September 29th another woman in her '20s reported being in Plaza Park in downtown Ventura when the same thing happened to her.

     In that case, the man drove to an unincorporatd area just northwest of the city. 

     He threatened and assaulted her with the intent to commit a sexual assault as he strangled, tased, and held a knife on her.

     She was able to escape and contacted a CHP officer.

     The investigation into both incidents led detectives to Mejia and he was arrested on October 1st.

     He remains in the Ventura County Jail with bail set at $200,000.

     Mejia is described as a Hispanic male, 5’8” tall, weighing 180 pounds, with black hair, and brown eyes (see photo).

     Mejia’s truck is a white 1997 Dodge Ram extended cab truck with the California license plate number 84058H1 (see photo).

     This investigation is currently ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office believes there could be additional victims.

     Anyone with information regarding Eliel Mejia or this case is encouraged to contact Detective Robert DeLaCerda of the Major Crimes Sexual Assault Unit at (805)384-4724.