Prosecutors Plan to File New Charges in Slaying of Student

Ventura County prosecutors intend to file a new criminal complaint today charging 31-year-old Vincent Sanchez with murder, kidnapping and related charges in the July slaying of Moorpark College student Megan Barroso.

Sanchez, a Simi Valley handyman, has admitted raping seven women and assaulting three others during a five-year span. But he has denied killing Barroso during a kidnapping and rape attempt, as prosecutors allege.

A grand jury indicted Sanchez last fall on those charges, as well as attempted rape and assault counts involving four other women. But the indictment was dismissed earlier this month after a Santa Barbara judge, Frank Ochoa, ruled that the grand jury included too many men.

After reviewing the ruling in the Sanchez case, prosecutors announced Thursday they will file a criminal complaint charging Sanchez with the same counts and allegations set aside by Ochoa.

The case is expected to proceed to a preliminary hearing. An arraignment is set for this afternoon in Ventura County Superior Court.

Prosecutors also announced they will continue to seek the death penalty. They contend Sanchez shot at Barroso’s car as she drove home from a Fourth of July party, dragged her from the vehicle and at some point tried to rape her. Barroso’s body was found Aug. 4 at the bottom of a steep ravine near Simi Valley.