A 20-year-old Thousand Oaks man is facing five years in state prison after admitting to a racially-motivated baseball bat attack.
Javier Gomez pled guilty on April 27, 2026, to felony assault with a deadly weapon, admitting to special allegations including gang involvement, hate crime, and causing great bodily injury.
The attack occurred on New Year’s Eve 2024. Prosecutors say Gomez, a documented gang member, and a juvenile accomplice cornered an African American man as he walked to his car.
After shouting racial slurs, Gomez struck the victim in the forehead with a bat before handing the weapon to the juvenile, who struck the victim a second time.
The victim, who has no gang ties, suffered lasting cognitive and vision issues.
"The victim and his wife showed tremendous courage by testifying at the preliminary hearing and confronting hate head on," District Attorney Erik Nasarenko stated. Gomez is scheduled for formal sentencing on May 26, 2026. The juvenile involved has already been sentenced in juvenile court.
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