Herrera served eight years and eight months in prison and was due to be released in 1996, but was ordered to Atascadero State Hospital under the terms of the Sexually Violent Predator Act; the law allows prosecutors to place repeat sexual offenders in state hospitals for two-year sentences. Herrera became a state test case of the law, trying to win his freedom in 1996 and 1998 court hearings. His third bid was successful when doctors testified he could safely be returned to society.Now, Herrera could be facing a 25 years to life prison sentence due to the three-strikes law, which relieved Ventura County prosecutors, especially Senior Deputy District Attorney David Lehr.“I was especially relieved,” that Herrera’s arrest did not involve an assault or worse, said Lehr. “Herrera’s just a violent, violent guy, a crime waiting to happen. . .the guy’s a psychopath,” who belongs in prison.Herrera, after his arrest in Carpinteria, threatened to kill some deputies. He remains in jail on a parole hold awaiting trial in Santa Barbara County.Herrera’s arrest was not his first contact with police in Santa Barbara County, according to a source who asked not to be identified.
Herrera, one of first violent sex offenders held under new law, arrested
January 30, 2002
Santa Paula News
The former Santa Paula resident who was one of the first sex offenders held in prison past his release date as the result of a dangerous predator’s law is back in jail on suspicion of stealing wine, lip balm and mouthwash from a Santa Barbara County store, and after his arrest threatened deputies.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe former Santa Paula resident who was one of the first sex offenders held in prison past his release date as the result of a dangerous predator’s law is back in jail on suspicion of stealing wine, lip balm and mouthwash from a Santa Barbara County store, and after his arrest threatened deputies.Ronald Steven Herrera, 56, was arrested in Carpinteria Jan. 5 on felony charges of stealing $11.53 worth of merchandise from a Vons grocery store; felony burglary charges were filed on what normally could be a petty theft due to Herrera’s intent to steal when he entered the store, according to the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office.Herrera was released from Atascadero State Hospital in November when doctors testified in a Ventura court room that he was no longer a danger to society.In 1971, Herrera and a companion were convicted of raping a woman and her 15-year-old daughter during a home invasion robbery; several people had rented the beach house in the Pierpont area of Ventura and were held hostage before being robbed.Shortly after his conviction Herrera escaped with three other inmates from an Oxnard jail; he fled to Virginia where he was soon arrested for a series of robberies and the attempted murder by shooting of a Virginia police officer. Sentenced to 50 years, Herrera served 13 years and was paroled but not released, instead being returned to California to serve his sentence on the Ventura charges.
