VENTURA, California – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that former Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Charles Barrios III (DOB 10/27/92), pled guilty to destroying physical matter, a felony violation of Penal Code section 141(b). The case was investigated by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO) Major Crimes Bureau.
On November 12, 2019, Barrios was on routine patrol in the city of Camarillo when he pulled over the female victim for a traffic violation. The victim was driving the vehicle and was the sole occupant. When Barrios contacted the victim, he suspected she was under the influence of methamphetamine. A back-up deputy arrived at the traffic stop. After assessing the victim, the back-up deputy corroborated Barrios’ belief that she was under the influence of methamphetamine. The victim was then arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance, a violation of Health and Safety Code section 11550.
Before, during, and after her arrest, the victim adamantly denied using narcotics. Barrios promised her that if she provided him with a urine sample at the Camarillo Police Station that tested negative for controlled substances, he would apologize and drive her back to her vehicle.
Barrios transported the victim to the Camarillo Station booking area, where she was provided with a sample cup and access to a restroom. Camarillo Station surveillance footage showed the victim exiting the restroom with the sample cup and handing it to Barrios, who was waiting outside. Barrios tested the urine with a narcotics test kit, observed the results, threw the test kit into the trash, and discarded the urine sample. Barrios refused to tell the victim her test results. He left the booking area to arrange for the victim’s transportation and booking at the main jail in Ventura. Barrios told a supervisor the victim had not provided a urine sample.
When another deputy contacted the victim to transport her to the main jail, she complained that she had provided a urine sample to Barrios, that he had tested it, and had refused to tell her the results. This deputy discovered the victim’s discarded test kit in a nearby trash can. The discarded kit showed the victim’s urine sample was negative for all controlled substances. The victim provided a second urine sample which tested negative for controlled substances. She was released and transported back to her vehicle.
The VCSO Major Crimes Bureau conducted a comprehensive investigation. The investigation revealed that in addition to discarding the victim’s urine and concealing her test results, Barrios also claimed in a police report to have administered a narcotics evaluation of the victim at the Camarillo Station. Surveillance footage revealed Barrios never performed the narcotics evaluation.
Barrios is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 365 days in jail and two years of felony probation.
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The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office is the public prosecutor for the county’s 850,000 residents. The office employs approximately 290 employees including attorneys, investigators, victim advocates, and professional support staff who strive to seek justice, ensure public safety, and protect the rights of crime victims.
Contact: Tony Wold
Title: Senior Deputy District Attorney
Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Telephone: (805) 662-1735
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Denise L. Rivas
Management Assistant III-Legal
District Attorney’s Office
Bureau of Investigation
646 County Square Drive, Suite 200
Ventura, CA 93033
805-477-1693
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