Countywide : Crime Stoppers Pays $1,000 to Informant in Homicide Case

Ventura County Crime Stoppers for the first time has given its maximum reward--$1,000--to an anonymous caller who police say offered the program its first tip leading to charges in a homicide case.

“Homicide is the worst crime, so of course our board of directors gave the caller our maximum reward,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Kitty Hoberg, who coordinates the program.

Port Hueneme police said the caller provided information that helped them gather enough evidence to arrest three Oxnard men and one juvenile in connection with the Dec. 1 shooting death of 55-year-old Richard Schell, a Santa Barbara realtor.

The Ventura County grand jury recently indicted the men on murder charges.

On Dec. 4, someone called Crime Stoppers and gave a detective a description of the individuals allegedly involved in the crime.

The arrests were made four days later.

Like all Crime Stoppers tipsters, the caller who helped police with the murder investigation was offered a secret identification number and was able to call police back with more details.

Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $1,000 for each caller who provides information that leads to arrests and charges filed by the district attorney’s office in connection with a felony case.

The amount of the reward is determined by the Crime Stoppers board of directors.

To contact Crime Stoppers, call 494-TALK in Moorpark and Thousand Oaks; 987-TALK in Camarillo, and 986-TALK in Port Hueneme.