April 15, 2024 - Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, patrol deputies assigned to the Thousand Oaks Police Station conducted a traffic stop of a bicyclist, James Darpino. During their investigation, deputies learned that Darpino was on active probation.
 
When a defendant is convicted of a crime, the judge may grant probation if the defendant agrees to certain conditions, which often include submission to warrantless searches. Proactive probation and parole searches by law enforcement are conducted to reduce high rates of recidivism and to hold probationers and parolees accountable to their court appointed probation conditions.  The theory of proactive probation and parole searches by law enforcement helps to minimize the risk to public safety because the probationer or parolee will be less inclined to possess the fruits and instrumentalities of crime, such as weapons and/or narcotics.
 
Mr. Darpino was searched in accordance with the terms of his probation. This search resulted in deputies locating over three ounces of suspected methamphetamine, a large amount of U.S. currency and other items believed to be from the sales of narcotics on his person. During the investigation, Darpino admitted he was currently residing inside a tent and gave that location and admitted there were more narcotics located inside his tent.
 
Detectives assigned to the Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU) assisted patrol deputies in their investigation.  Patrol deputies and detectives located Darpino’s tent which was searched per his probation terms.  The search located approximately two ounces of suspected methamphetamine, 15.3 grams of mushrooms, and approximately 4.5 pounds of marijuana.
 
Darpino was subsequently arrested for being in violation of Health and Safety Code § 11378 – Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance and Health and Safety Code § 11379(a) – Sale/Transport/Offer to Sell a Controlled Substance. Darpino was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he remains in custody with a total scheduled bail of $200,000.
 
These types of proactive contacts by alert patrol deputies help keep dangerous weapons and drugs off the streets of Thousand Oaks.  If you have information about criminal activity in East County areas in the Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, please contact Detective Jonathan San Jose at (805) 371-8338.
 
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.
 
Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

Source: Ventura County Sheriff's Office