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crime1d ago
Thousand Oaks man pleads guilty to beating victim with baseball bat in 2024 hate crime
Cbsnews.com and 1 more
- A Thousand Oaks man, Javier Gomez, pled guilty to a racially motivated assault with a baseball bat, admitting hate crime and gang allegations in Ventura County.
- The attack occurred on December 31, 2024, when Gomez and a juvenile accomplice confronted the Black victim as he walked to his car in Thousand Oaks, using racial slurs before striking him.
- Gomez handed the weapon to the juvenile, who struck the victim again, with prosecutors noting the act was part of a plan to intimidate due to gang involvement and hate.
- Authorities indicate the victim suffered lasting cognitive and vision issues for several months following the assault.
- Gomez faces a five-year state prison sentence, with sentencing scheduled for May 26, and the juvenile involved has already been sentenced in juvenile court.
- The Ventura County District Attorney commended the victim and his family for their courage and stated the community will not tolerate hate-fueled violence or gang-related intimidation.
- Gomez is described by prosecutors as a documented gang member, reinforcing the case as a gang-related hate crime.
- Deputies responded to the scene after a 911 call from the victim’s girlfriend, highlighting immediate law enforcement involvement.
- Prosecutors described the case as a hate-fueled assault, framed by aggravating factors and special allegations tied to gang involvement and hate crimes.
- The case updates align with ongoing local coverage of hate crimes and community safety within Ventura County, underscoring coordinated legal consequences.
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