A Simi Valley man was sentenced Friday to 51 years to life in state prison after pleading guilty to the fatal stabbing of his girlfriend in September 2024, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Case details and court outcome
Ramon Joseph Rivas, 36, admitted in court to second-degree murder in the killing of Jessica Tinoco. Prosecutors said the attack left Tinoco with multiple stab wounds to her face, chest, stomach and arms; she died after being taken to a hospital.
The sentencing follows Rivas’ guilty plea on May 20, 2026, when he also admitted to all special allegations and aggravating factors brought by the prosecution. Those included the use of a deadly weapon, a high degree of violence, the victim’s vulnerability and strike priors, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“The defendant’s willingness to take responsibility for his horrendous crime doesn’t excuse what he did to the victim and her family,”
The comment was made by Senior Deputy District Attorney John Barrick, who handled the prosecution. Barrick also noted following the plea that the slaying was especially tragic because of additional circumstances that made the crime particularly grievous.
Crime scene and aftermath
According to court filings and the district attorney’s news release, police responded on Sept. 27, 2024, after a 911 call placed by one of Tinoco’s daughters reporting that her mother was being attacked. Responding officers detained Rivas as he walked out of the home shirtless and with blood on his upper torso.
Investigators found evidence of a struggle in the residence and recovered a bent, bloody steak knife on the living room floor. Witness accounts and officers’ observations indicated Rivas had grabbed the knife from the kitchen during a domestic dispute and then attacked Tinoco in the presence of her five children, who fled the home, the DA’s office said.
Local context and community impact
The case underscores continuing concerns about domestic violence in Ventura County and its lasting effects on families and children who witness such incidents. In addition to the criminal penalty, the conviction brings an official record of the crime’s severity and the aggravating factors that influenced sentencing.
Local advocates note that help is available for survivors and family members dealing with the aftermath of domestic violence. National resources were cited in initial reporting; a national hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233.
- Defendant: Ramon Joseph Rivas, 36
- Victim: Jessica Tinoco
- Crime date: Sept. 27, 2024
- Plea date: May 20, 2026
- Sentence: 51 years to life in state prison
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Incident reported / police response | Sept. 27, 2024 |
| Guilty plea | May 20, 2026 |
| Sentencing announced | Aug. 11, 2026 |
Legal notes and prosecution stance
Rivas was on post-release community supervision at the time of the homicide, the district attorney’s release stated. By admitting to the special allegations and aggravating factors, he accepted the particulars that the prosecution argued made the crime especially violent and warranted a lengthy term under California sentencing law.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Barrick, who prosecuted the case, emphasized the lasting trauma the murder inflicted on the family and said the defendant’s acceptance of responsibility does not mitigate the damage done. The DA’s office has characterized the slaying as both violent and highly traumatic for the victim’s children.
Community members and advocates for domestic-violence survivors say the conviction and sentence highlight the need for awareness, intervention and continued support services for families at risk. Information on local services can be obtained through Ventura County health and human services offices and nonprofit support organizations.
The case remains a notable and painful episode for Simi Valley as families cope with the consequences of intimate-partner violence and the criminal-justice system moves to impose long-term custodial punishment.
