Two Arrested for Felony Identity Theft in Mira Monte Case

Two individuals, a 27-year-old man from Carpinteria and a 26-year-old woman from Port Hueneme, have pleaded not guilty to felony identity theft charges related to a case involving a resident of Mira Monte. This development occurred during a state court hearing on December 2, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

The arrests took place on November 29 in Newbury Park. Authorities apprehended the pair on suspicion of several offenses, including the unauthorized use of another person’s identifying information. The investigation was triggered by a report filed on November 11, when a 41-year-old resident of Mira Monte reported that her purse, containing credit cards and a key fob, had been stolen from her unlocked vehicle parked in her driveway.

Following the theft, the victim’s credit cards were fraudulently used at various locations across Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Detectives employed multiple investigative techniques to identify the suspects, ultimately leading to the arrests of the two individuals.

On November 23, prior to the arrests in Newbury Park, the Carpinteria man was taken into custody by the Oxnard Police Department on unrelated charges. He was subsequently booked on identity theft and other offenses connected to the Mira Monte case. After posting bail, he was released, but law enforcement continued to gather evidence.

On November 29, deputies located the Port Hueneme woman at the 2700 block of Teller Road in Newbury Park. She was arrested for identity theft, while the Carpinteria man was apprehended for an outstanding warrant from Santa Barbara County. During the arrests, authorities uncovered additional evidence related to identity theft, prompting further charges against both suspects.

The pair is currently detained in separate facilities at Ventura County jails. Bail has been set at a total of $250,000 for the Carpinteria man and $90,000 for the Port Hueneme woman, according to jail records. Both individuals are scheduled to appear for an early disposition conference on December 11, followed by a preliminary examination on December 15 at the Ventura County Superior Court.