The Ventura County District Attorney's Office has formally pressed charges against Oxnard resident Jose Luis Meza Jr. for multiple sexual assault crimes, following a DNA match that connected him to a 2020 attack. According to a press release from the District Attorney's office, the alleged sexual assault involved forcible oral copulation, sexual battery by restraint, and assault with intent to commit forcible sexually motivated crimes.
Meza, who was already in custody for unrelated charges, entered a not guilty plea at the arraignment held the day before the announcement of the charges, the crimes which date back to an incident on September 14, 2020, that involved an attack on a female victim. The case remained unsolved until recent advancements in DNA testing techniques by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Bureau led to Meza's identification.
Investigator Greg Webb, with the cold case unit funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, was instrumental in the renewed inquiry that resulted in the charges laid against Meza. Senior Deputy District Attorney Brent Nibecker is set to prosecute the case, as per the District Attorney's office. Victims or witnesses with information regarding this or any additional crimes committed by Meza are encouraged to contact Investigator Webb directly at (805) 477-1627.
As documented in the district attorney's communication, Meza, if convicted, may be sentenced under California’s Three Strikes Law due to his record; he faces several special allegations including prior strikes, serious or violent offenses, and the vulnerability of the victim at the time of the crime, Meza’s next court appearance is scheduled for August 23, with a preliminary examination following on August 28, as detailed by the District Attorney's office.
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