A Thousand Oaks man, previously a registered sex offender, has been convicted on multiple charges stemming from the rape and sexual assault of a woman in a motel room, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced yesterday. Caleb Dean DeBinion, born October 12, 1988, was found guilty by a jury of forcible rape, false imprisonment, forcible oral copulation, sexual battery, and two counts of sexual penetration with force or fear on February 21, 2025, with the decision coming after close examination of the disturbing circumstances surrounding the crime, according to an official statement.
The events dating back to May 24, 2023, unfolded after DeBinion encountered the victim and her mother, claiming the guise of a Good Samaritan he offered them the use of his motel room for a shower – an offer that the victim and her mother accepted with no intention of recompense, according to the District Attorney's report. The victim was assaulted by DeBinion who ignored her refusals, stepped into the shower uninvited and committed the sexual assault while she was vulnerable and naked, the prosecution laid bare a narrative of aggression and continued violation even after the victim had emerged from the shower.
Deputy District Attorney Rosa Romero, who is part of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Unit, prosecuted the case, commending the victim for her courage to confront DeBinion in court – her actions were pivotal in ensuring that justice was served. "I extend my sincere gratitude to the victim for her bravery in facing her accuser in court," Romero was quoted in the District Attorney's press release, "We are grateful she was able to obtain the justice she deserves." The same gratitude was extended to the jury for their comprehensive deliberation over the details presented during the trial.
Upon his conviction, DeBinion was taken into custody awaiting sentencing, with an additional special allegation that the victim was particularly vulnerable to be decided by the judge, scheduled for tomorrow, in courtroom 45.
