By Redaccion
redaccion@latinocc.com
A convicted felon from Santa Barbara has been ordered to stand trial for attacking a California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer during an attempted escape in 2024, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced.
Jesse Andrew Mendoza, 20, was held to answer on March 18, 2025, following a preliminary hearing before Ventura County Superior Court Judge Paul Baelly. He faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges, including assault on a peace officer, attempted mayhem, battery on a peace officer, and driving under the influence. Prosecutors have also filed special allegations due to a prior violent felony conviction.
DUI Stop Leads to Attack on Officer
The incident occurred on October 5, 2024, when CHP officers stopped Mendoza for a Vehicle Code violation. During the stop, officers determined that Mendoza was driving under the influence of alcohol and placed him under arrest.
While being transported to the CHP station for booking, Mendoza managed to slip out of his handcuffs and launched a violent attack on the officer driving the patrol car. After the assault, he fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement.
At the time of his arrest, Mendoza was already on record for a previous violent offense. Five months earlier, he had been convicted in Santa Barbara County for assault with a deadly weapon.
Legal Proceedings and Custody Status
Deputy District Attorney Jillian Ewan, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office DUI Unit, is prosecuting the case. Mendoza is scheduled for an arraignment on April 1, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court.
He remains in custody at Ventura County Jail with bail set at $250,000.
