Sexual Assault Arrest in Ventura

Eliel Mejia, a 22-year-old man from Santa Paula, California, was arrested on September 30 by the Ventura County Sheriff for his involvement in two sexual assault incidents in Ventura. The investigation is ongoing because investigators believe there could be more victims. Do not hesitate to contact the police if you have information about this case of Eliel Mejia. Mejia is a Hispanic male with brown eyes and black hair, about 180 pounds, and 5’8” tall. The truck he used for the sexual assault incidents is a 1997 white Dodge Ram with plate number 84058H1. 

The first sexual assault incident occurred near the 300 block of Hillmont Rd. on September 13. in Ventura. Mejia approached the female victim outside a liquor store and lured her into his truck under the guise of smoking marijuana. There were two pit bulls inside the truck. Mejia drove to an orchard east of Ventura and forcefully sexually assaulted the victim.

The second sexual assault incident happened near the 6000 block of the Pacific Coast Hwy on September 29. The female victim was approached by Mejia at Plaza Park in Ventura. After getting the victim to get inside his truck, he drove to a dirt road north of Ventura and threatened to kill, tased, and strangled the victim while holding a knife. 

The police found and arrested Mejia in Santa Paula city. He had on him the taser detectives believe he used during the second sexual assault incident. They found additional evidence in Mejia’s vehicle and residence. Mejia is facing multiple sexual assault-related charges, including criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon. Mejia is being held in Ventura County Jail on a $500,000 bail.

What to Do After Experiencing Sexual Assault?

• Get Support – Reach out to someone you trust and feel safe with to help you process what happened. This can be a friend, family member, or partner or calling a hotline crisis if you prefer to be anonymous.
• Seek Medical Attention – Healthcare professionals can treat any injuries you may have and help ensure your physical and sexual health. You can also consider having a rape kit done, which is a forensic examination used for gathering blood, DNA samples, and other evidence related to sexual assault. If you don’t want to report the incident right away, some centers can store the evidence. This is important because even if you don’t think you’ll file a lawsuit or press charges, you might change your mind in the future.
• Learn About Your Legal Options – Some sexual assault survivors want to report the incident immediately and bring legal action against the perpetrator, while others don’t. Whatever you decide, you can explore the legal options available to you by discussing your situation with an experienced attorney.

Get Legal Help From an Experienced Ventura Sexual Assault Attorney Today

If you are a sexual assault or sexual abuse victim and want to learn more about the best legal options for your case, get in touch with the Ventura sexual assault attorney at Bamieh & De Smeth right away. We will do everything we can to hold the perpetrator liable for the pain and damages they have caused you and secure the maximum compensation you deserve under the law. Reach us online or call 805-643-5555 to arrange your free case evaluation today.