Judge Drops Theft Charges for ‘Pack-Rat’

Misdemeanor theft charges were dismissed Friday against Ray Mahala, better known as “Pack-Rat,” the former self-proclaimed leader of Ventura’s river-bottom population.

During a brief hearing, Municipal Judge Steven Hintz made a finding of factual innocence, in effect ruling that Mahala did not commit the crimes with which he had been charged. The district attorney’s office did not oppose the ruling.

“I knew all the time I was innocent,” said a smiling Mahala after the hearing. “But now I just hope they get the guy who did it.”

Mahala was arrested in November after the owner of an Ojai music store identified him as the man who tried to sell him 61 stolen compact discs on Sept. 1.

Last week, however, the same store owner contacted police to say he had been mistaken. Sal Lucido, owner of Blue Sky Music, said he realized his error when the man who brought in the stolen compact discs returned to sell more.

Deputy Public Defender Mary Jones, who represented Mahala, said she was notified Thursday by prosecutors that the theft charges would be dismissed.

“Pack-Rat’s an interesting individual--he knew this was going to happen,” Jones said. “He’s gone through a lot of stress because he knew he wasn’t the man. But he was put through the system.”

Mahala lived in the Ventura River bottom for almost 30 years, until he moved in with a Ventura family in November.