Two Santa Paula Men Arrested After Assaulting Six Minors With Bat

The Santa Paula Police Department arrested two individuals, ages 19 and 42, in connection with beating minors with a bat.

The incident occurred in the 900 block of East Santa Paula Street on January 13 at about 5:10 p.m., according to a January 14 Santa Paula Police Department press release.

Santa Paula Police received several 911 calls reporting a man attacking juveniles with a bat. Officers were dispatched immediately and arrived at the scene within one minute.

At the scene, officers contacted six male juveniles who had sustained injuries during the assault. All six victims were later transported for medical treatment.

Both suspects fled the scene in a vehicle prior to officers’ arrival, police said.

Press Release: Suspects Arrested in Assault on Multiple Juvenile Victims
Comunicado de Prensa: Sospechosos arrestados por agresión a varias víctimas menores de edad pic.twitter.com/C9Y7LWZh7O

— Santa Paula Police Department (@SP_Police) January 15, 2026

Emergency medical units from the Ventura County Fire Department and American Medical Response responded to the scene and treated all six victims. The juveniles received medical attention before being transported to area hospitals for further evaluation.

Authorities reported several injuries, including head injuries, though none were life-threatening.

Officers quickly identified the suspects, who were arrested later the same evening. Police identified them as Adam Hernandez, 19, and Angel Garcia, 42, both residents of Santa Paula.

After their arrest, both suspects were booked into the Ventura County Jail.

Hernandez and Garcia face multiple criminal charges, including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, child endangerment, and conspiracy.

Police said the assault appears to have been a targeted, gang-related attack. Detectives also served search warrants as part of the investigation.

Police have not released any additional details related to the motive or an update about the attack.

Bail for both Hernandez and Garcia was set at $500,000 each. They are scheduled for arraignment on January 15, 2026, in Ventura County Superior Court.

The Santa Paula Police Department said the investigation is ongoing and asked anyone with information related to the incident to come forward.

In a separate incident involving crimes against minors in Ventura County, prosecutors also announced the conviction of Jose Santos Villalobos, 34, of Oxnard. According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Villalobos was found guilty of attempted child abduction, filing false or forged documents, forgery, and a misdemeanor violation of a domestic relations court order.

Villalobos is scheduled for sentencing on February 6, 2026, and faces a maximum sentence of four years and two months in state prison.