Erik Nasarenko was appointed District Attorney by a 5-0 vote of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors on January 26, 2021. He becomes the 24th District Attorney in Ventura County history to lead the office.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Nasarenko served and protected Ventura County as a Senior Deputy District Attorney, where he secured jury trial convictions against defendants for child molestation, rape, kidnapping and murder. Mr. Nasarenko was named Prosecutor of the Year in 2016 by the Ventura County District Attorney for his advocacy on behalf of children, women, and sexual assault victims. His prosecutorial efforts have resulted in multiple convictions of life imprisonment against some of Ventura County’s worst sexual predators.
Mr. Nasarenko began his career as a Ventura County prosecutor in 2008 and has worked in several different assignments, including misdemeanors, general felonies, serious and violent crimes, DUI-based offenses, domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. He has taken more than 60 jury trials to verdict. Mr. Nasarenko is deeply committed to representing all victims and has fought on their behalf to ensure justice is sought and their voices are heard.
Mr. Nasarenko also served as the District Attorney’s representative to Homeless Court, where he visited the Samaritan Center, Salvation Army and Rescue Mission shelters to help rehabilitate our homeless population by dismissing infractions and low-level misdemeanors in exchange for community service and successful completion of drug and alcohol programs. These dismissals enabled individuals to get back on their feet without being burdened by ongoing court fees, license suspensions and the heavy weight of a criminal conviction. The program also provided opportunities for community-based job development.
In addition to his prosecutorial responsibilities, Mr. Nasarenko served on the Ventura City Council from 2013 to 2021, where he oversaw a $300 million budget and 650 employees as Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councilmember. Shortly after his swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Nasarenko led the drive to switch the election schedule from odd to even years, a voter-approved measure that boosted voter turnout and reduced election-related costs. In 2015, Mr. Nasarenko became Mayor of Ventura and helped to pass Measure O, which has kept fire stations open, created community-based policing positions, supported libraries, and provided funding for a local homeless shelter.
In December 2017, Mr. Nasarenko worked closely with state and local officials to help Thomas Fire victims rebuild their homes. He also fulfilled an earlier campaign promise to build a tot lot adjacent to the Ventura Community Park pool, which was made possible in part by $10,000 in donations from the councilmember’s salary. A strong protector of the environment, Mr. Nasarenko was a leader in transitioning the city’s electrical supply away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable renewable energy sources. Mr. Nasarenko was re-elected to the City Council in 2018, representing District 4. Prior to serving on the City Council, Mr. Nasarenko was a member of the City’s Library Advisory Commission.
The son of Ukrainian immigrants who fled the Soviet Union during World War II, Mr. Nasarenko was raised in the San Fernando Valley. His father is a retired aeronautical engineer and his mother a retired history teacher. Mr. Nasarenko graduated from the University of California, Irvine, where he studied history and played Division I intercollegiate soccer.
After college, Mr. Nasarenko began his career in public service as an aide to U.S. Congressman Anthony Beilenson, who represented parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and was an author of the federal legislation creating the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Thereafter, Mr. Nasarenko worked in public education for over a decade, serving as a community relations and communications director to the Los Angeles and Pasadena school districts. Mr. Nasarenko worked in public education during the day while attending Loyola Law School at night.
Mr. Nasarenko is married and has two school-age children. He and his wife of 20 years, Julia, a former elementary school teacher, are ongoing season subscribers of Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre Company and supporters of the Ventura Education Partnership, which provides grants to Ventura Unified School District teachers.
