After enduring a judicial marathon that spanned decades, Kevin Ray James has been sentenced to 19 years to life in state prison for the murder of Monica Leech during an armed robbery at a Thousand Oaks bank in 1997. As reported by the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, on May 16, 2025, James pleaded guilty, admitting to the personal use of a firearm in commission of the crime on the ill-fated day. The sentece was handed down on June 13, 2025 by the Ventura County courts.
Sorrow and calls for justice marked the sentencing hearing, where the heavy weight of grief still settled on Monica's loved ones could be felt. Floyd L., the husband of the deceased, shared with the court, "The hurts, nightmares, and heartaches we all have will never go away, for one senseless act. You already had what you came for, the money, all you had to do was leave." In the address attended by family and friends, they echoed the sentiment that their loss and hurt, sparked by a single violent act, would eternally linger. As provided by the Ventura County District Attorney's statement, this torment was compounded by Christina H., Monica's sister, and Scott G., her co-worker, who underscored the enduring impact of tragedy and trauma.
The case, which remained unsolved for over 25 years, broke open with new forensic evidence pointing to James as one of the culprits. On March 13, 2023, he faced charges for his role in the robbery that led to Monica's death, and ultimately, his recent guilty plea. During the 1997 incident, two men disguised as construction workers forced employees, including Monica, into the vault room of Western Financial Bank. Following their demands to open the safe, the suspects handcuffed employees, forcing them to kneel, before Monica was fatally shot, leading to her tragic and untimely death.
Senior Deputy District Attorneys Richard Simon and Hayley Moyer, representing the Ventura County District Attorney’s Major Crimes Unit, prosecuted the case. In a statement obtained by the Ventura County DA's office, Mr. Simon said, "This sentencing is the culmination of a lot of hard work by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office to finally bring justice to the family, friends, co-workers and loved ones of Monica Leech." His comments capture the exhaustive process behind the pursuit of long-overdue justice for a crime that has left permanent scars on a community and a family forever searching for peace.
