Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Gerardo Rodrigo Vargas (DOB 11/16/80), of Oxnard, pled guilty on July 6, 2026, to one felony count of violation of civil rights stemming from a racially motivated confrontation outside an Oxnard grocery store.
According to the news release, Vargas also admitted to several special allegations including a strike prior. On May 13, 2026, Vargas confronted an African American man outside the Grocery Outlet located at 920 N. Ventura Road in Oxnard.
The victim had arrived at the store to shop, and the two men were strangers. As the victim approached the entrance, Vargas quickly stood up, approached him, yelled the N-word multiple times and raised his fists. Vargas continued to threaten the victim by saying, _"I'm gonna f*** you up." _
A store employee who knew Vargas intervened and prevented the confrontation from becoming physical. The incident was witnessed by a store manager and captured on surveillance video. Officers with the Oxnard Police Department responded to the scene and located Vargas outside the store holding a bottle of vodka. As mentioned in the official news release, the entire event was clearly documented, helping prosecutors build a strong case.
_"Hate crimes have no place in Ventura County," _District Attorney Erik Nasarenko said. "No one should be threatened or intimidated because of their race. This resolution holds the defendant accountable while reinforcing our commitment to protecting every member of our community and ensuring victims of hate crimes receive justice."
Senior Deputy District Attorney Hayley Moyer, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office major crime unit, prosecuted the case.
Vargas is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains in custody pending sentencing. According to the news release, Vargas is expected to be sentenced to 365 days in the Ventura County Jail, be placed on 24 months of formal probation, and be required to complete a six-month rehabilitation program, perform community service, and visit the Museum of Tolerance.
This case shows how Ventura County authorities are treating hate crimes seriously. According to the news release from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, even though the confrontation did not become a physical fight, the racist threats and intimidation are being held accountable under the law.
The guilty plea brings some sense of justice to the victim without needing a full trial.Hate crime cases like this often involve extra scrutiny because they target people based on their race, which can cause deeper emotional harm beyond just the immediate incident. The special allegations admitted by Vargas, including a prior strike, prior prison term, and being on parole at the time, show this was not his first run-in with the law. Those factors could have made the penalties much tougher if the case had gone all the way to trial.
The resolution sends a clear message that racially motivated threats will not be ignored in the community.
According to the release, the District Attorney’s Office continues to prioritize these types of cases to keep residents safe regardless of their background.
**Case: 2026012539 **
Defendant:* Gerardo Rodrigo Vargas (DOB 11/16/80), Oxnard
**Charges pled guilty to: **
PC 422.6(a) – Violation of civil rights
**Special allegations admitted: **
PC 667S2 – Prior strike
- PC 1170(h)(3) – Prior serious or violent felony
- CRC 4.421(b)(3) – The defendant has served a prior prison term
- CRC 4.421(b)(4) – The defendant was on parole when the crime was committed