Subject Arrested for Arson 

July 23, 2026 – Ventura County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on June 21, 2026, at approximately 1:12 p.m., the Ojai Police Department and Ventura County Fire Department were dispatched to a structure fire at the Ikat & Pearls Boutique at 324 E. Ojai Avenue, in the city of Ojai. The fire was quickly extinguished by the Fire Department but ultimately caused permanent damage to the structure.

Due to the suspicious nature of the fire, the Major Crimes Bomb and Arson Unit along with the Ventura County Fire Department Arson Unit investigated the incident. Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined Ava Everett willfully and maliciously started the fire at Ikat & Pearls in violation of Penal Code § 451(c) – Arson of a Structure.

On July 20, 2026, the case was filed with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, and an arrest warrant was issued for Everett. That same day, Everett was taken into custody for the warrant and booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is continuing the investigation into this arson. If you have any information regarding this incident, contact Detective Turock at (805)383-8743 or by email at dan.turock@venturacounty.gov.

Nature of Incident:	Subject Arrested for Arson
Report Number:	26-79397
Location:	324 E. Ojai Avenue, Ojai (Ikat & Pearls Boutique)
Date & Time:	06/21/2026 @ 1:12 p.m.
Unit(s) Responsible:	Major Crimes Bomb and Arson Unit Ventura County Fire Department Arson Unit Ojai Detective Bureau Ojai Patrol
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent		City of Residence	Age
(S) Ava Amara Everett		Unincorporated Santa Paula	19

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information, which leads to arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime.  The caller may remain anonymous.  The call is not recorded.  Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Source: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office