VENTURA, Calif. – Five juveniles have been charged in connection with an assault involving three victims at a Simi Valley movie theater parking lot on August 1, 2025, according to Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.
Three of the juveniles are facing felony charges of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, each with a special allegation of a hate crime. A fourth juvenile has been charged with felony assault, along with misdemeanor counts of criminal threats and battery. The fifth juvenile is charged with misdemeanor criminal threats and battery.
Two of the minors are 16 years old and three are 17. Due to their age, their identities are not being released.
In addition to the August 1 incident, two of the juveniles are also being charged in connection with a separate altercation that occurred in the same parking lot on May 30, 2025.
“Hate crimes spread fear, division and violence throughout an entire community,” said District Attorney Nasarenko. “Our office is committed to holding these youth accountable and ensuring that justice is delivered for the victims and our community.”
Senior Deputy District Attorney Maureen Byrne is prosecuting the case. All five juveniles are scheduled for arraignment on October 10, 2025, at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center in Oxnard.
