Roundup: Ventura County man nabs jackpot at Chumash Casino, more news
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Here's a roundup of recent incidents and announcements from Ventura County agencies:
Local man nabs noteworthy jackpot
A Ventura County grandfather recently snagged a $556,120 jackpot at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, the casino said Friday.
The anonymous winner hit the prize on May 25 using a Bonus Times progressive machine in the casino's Higher Limits room. It was his second spin that morning, according to the release.
“I was just surprised that the three 10s came up,” he told resort officials. “Every time I visit, I play that machine and the one next to it that is sitting at $1.3 million.”
The man said he visits the casino about once a month. He planned to buy one granddaughter a new car and give money to two other grandchildren for a college fund.
"Oh, and pay taxes on it," he reportedly chuckled.
The 21-and-over facility on Highway 246 is owned and operated by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The casino’s gaming floor is open 24/7 and features 2,300 slot machines, 45 table games, bingo and weekly prize giveaways, according to the release.
Santa Paula detours start Monday
Construction work starting Monday at a major Santa Paula intersection is expected to disrupt traffic for about five weeks, police officials said.
Work at Palm Avenue and Harvard Boulevard will start in the middle of the intersection. Traffic control and turning restrictions will be in place 24 hours a day, the Santa Paula Police Department said.
The project will cause a "significant" impact to the flow of traffic and to access on Palm and Harvard, the agency warned.
Businesses will remain open during construction.
Motorists trying to access Highway 126 are advised to use 10th Street or Peck Road, officials said. A map provided by the department showed a recommended detour route in green that runs along Main Street to Eighth Street and along the frontage road on the south side of the 126.
Significant restrictions will be in place on Harvard and Palm, including turn restrictions and lane reductions, officials said. Drivers are advised to expect delays and avoid the area if possible.
Parking lot near Mussel Shoals reopens
A parking lot near Mussel Shoals is open again after renovation work aimed at deterring illegal street racing, authorities said.
The Punta Gorda parking lot now has strategically placed speed bumps and 155 "wheel stop" cement parking barriers, Ventura County officials said. The lot is located along the northbound side of Highway 101, north of the Seacliff interchange, at the end of old Pacific Coast Highway. A pedestrian undercrossing below the freeway provides access to beach areas including Oil Piers and Mussel Shoals.
The site was known for its "high incidence" of illegal vehicular activities including drag racing and donuts, county officials said in a release. The project included collaboration with the county planning division, the District Attorney's Office, Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol and the California Coastal Commission.
Supervisor Matt LaVere said in a statement his office began collaborating with the various agencies after becoming aware of the public safety dangers at the parking lot.
DA Erik Nasarenko said in a statement the effort "attacks the conditions that permit illegal street racing to occur" and the barriers would help restore the coastal lot for its intended use as beach access.
The collaboration involved extensive planning and coordination over two years, according to the release, after several requests had been made to stop illegal races and gatherings at the site. The project closed the lot for a time starting in late May.
3rd defendant changes plea in 2017 Christmas stabbing
The third defendant in a fatal 2017 Christmas night stabbing in Ventura was recently released from custody after pleading guilty to an assault charge in April.
Chris Gallegos, 24, had previously been charged with murder along with two other men. In April's plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to one count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and admitted to several special allegations, including a street terrorism enhancement.
The case involved a deadly stabbing in Ventura's beachside parking structure at 500 E. Harbor Blvd., near the Ventura Pier, on the night of Dec. 25, 2017. The victim, Ventura resident Joseph Cruz, 30, was stabbed about 14 times and died the following day. Authorities described the targeted attack as gang-related.
Two other defendants, Jose Manuel Acevedo and Andy Diaz, who were juveniles at the time of the incident, previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in April 2022 and were sentenced to state prison.
Gallegos was sentenced May 26 in Ventura County Superior Court to a total of 11 years for the assault charge and a firearms offense, according to prosecutors. He had been in county jail facilities since December 2017. With his time spent in jail and credits, he had served the full sentence, prosecutors said. He was released from jail custody and put on state parole supervision.
