VENTURA, California – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Judge Patricia Murphy sentenced former Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Charles Barrios III (DOB 10/27/92), to 365 days in jail and two years of felony probation. Barrios pled guilty on November 16, 2021, 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 Camarillo when he pulled over the female victim for a traffic violation. The victim was driving the vehicle and was the sole occupant.
Barrios spoke to the victim and suspected she was under the influence of methamphetamine. A second deputy arrived at the traffic stop. After assessing the victim, the second deputy corroborated Barrios’ belief that she was under the influence of methamphetamine. The victim was 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 Police 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 later told a supervisor the victim had not provided a urine sample.
The victim complained to another deputy 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.
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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