Full Notification

Nature of Incident: Ojai gang member sentenced to 27 years

Location: Short Street at Ventura Avenue, Oak View

Date: 12-8-2009

Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Gang Unit

Suspect: Ramos, Sergio

City of Residence: Oak View

Age: 28

Sergio Ramos was sentenced this morning to 27 years in state prison for a shooting he committed in Oak View in 2008. Ramos, an Ojai gang member, has been in custody since his arrest in June of 2008.

On 5-18-08, at about 0800 hours, deputies and investigators from the Sheriff’s Gang Unit were called to an address on Short Street where they discovered a car that had two bullet holes in it. The area was searched and 7 shell casings were found more than 350 feet away. It was later determined the shell casings had been fired from a semi automatic handgun. Deputies also located a victim, Kyle Hoffman, who stated he was shot at during the early morning hours. He did not report the incident at the time of the shooting.

Sheriff’s gang investigators developed information that Ojai gang member Sergio Ramos was involved in the shooting and obtained a search warrant for his residence.

On 6-20-2008, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit, along with deputies from the Ojai station, served a search warrant at Ramos’s residence, located in the 100 block of La Luna Street, Oak View. Ramos was present during the search and was arrested for assault with a firearm and street terrorism. During the search of the residence, ammunition was located that was similar to the shell casings found at the scene. Ramos was booked into the Ventura County Jail.

Sheriff’s Gang investigators believe Ramos shot at Hoffman because Ramos thought Hoffman vandalized his residence.

In June of 2008, the District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Ramos; he remained in custody until his trial. In October of this year, a jury found Ramos guilty of attempted murder and intentionally discharging a firearm during the commission of that crime.

California state law mandates that anyone convicted of a violent crime serve at least 85 percent of his or her sentence. Ramos will be eligible for parole in 2032, at the age of 51.