Ventura Man Sentenced to Prison for Criminal Threats, Assault on Officers

By Redaccion
[email protected]

The Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Nathan Journigan (DOB 11/19/93), of Ventura, was sentenced on April 25, 2024, to five years state prison. He previously pled guilty on March 27, 2024, to felony criminal threats and felony preventing a police officer from performing their duty. Journigan also pled guilty to misdemeanor assault on a peace officer, and admitted to several special allegations and enhancements.

“The sentence in this case shows that dangerous and threatening conduct against both innocent civilians and law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in Ventura County,” said Deputy District Attorney Hayley Moyer, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Unit.

On November 4, 2023, Journigan was engaged in a verbal argument with his mother in the common area of their Ventura apartment complex. When a neighbor opened his door and asked them to keep the noise level down, Journigan responded with racist language and threats of violence against the African American man. The victim retreated into his apartment and called 911. That night, at least two more 911 calls were made by other residents of the complex.

Officers with the Ventura Police Department arrived at the apartment where Journigan lived with his mother. Knowing both were inside, officers knocked on the door and identified themselves but there was no response. Record checks revealed Journigan was on post-release community supervision for a prior conviction, and he had search terms for his person and property. When no one answered the door, officers used a key provided by the apartment complex manager to gain access. Once inside, Journigan’s behavior escalated when he told officers he had a fully loaded gun and threatened to stab their police K-9. Officers tasered Journigan and he fell to the ground. While down, he pulled on a flat screen TV and threw it at the officers, hitting one of them in the leg. The police K-9 was deployed and Journigan was arrested.

Case: 2023029430
Defendant Information:
Nathan Journigan (DOB 11/19/93)
Ventura

Charges:

• PC 422 – Criminal Threats
• PC 69(a) – Attempt to prevent an executive officer from performing duty
• PC 241(c) – Assault on a peace officer

Special Allegations

• PC 1170(h)(3) – Prior serious or violent felony
• CRC 4.421(a)(3) – Victim was vulnerable
• CRC 4.421(b)(2) – The defendant’s prior convictions
• CRC 4.421(b)(3) – The defendant has served a prior prison term
• CRC 4.421(b)(4) – The defendant was on post-release community supervision when the crime was committed