VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – A four-decade-old rape conviction was formally vacated this week after new DNA testing revealed that the man convicted in the case was not the individual responsible. The ruling marks a landmark moment for Ventura County’s growing effort to revisit old cases and correct past miscarriages of justice.
A Case Reopened After 40 Years
The case dates back to 1982, when a sexual assault in unincorporated Simi Valley led law enforcement to arrest and charge Richard Luna, who was later convicted by a jury and sentenced to six years in state prison. At the time, forensic technology was far more limited, and the sexual assault kit collected from the victim remained untested for DNA for decades.
In recent years, Ventura County launched an aggressive effort to re-examine older cases involving untested sexual assault kits. As part of that initiative, the kit from the 1982 assault was sent for advanced DNA testing — technology capable of identifying even minute traces of biological material.
The results were clear and conclusive:
Luna was excluded as the contributor of the biological evidence, and a different individual’s DNA profile matched the sample from the kit.
A New Suspect Identified — But No Charges Possible
While modern forensic tools identified another individual connected to the assault, prosecutors reported that the statute of limitations for the crime had long expired. Because of this, no new charges can be filed, even though investigators now know who the DNA belongs to.
The findings were immediately shared with Luna, the victim, and the Ventura County Public Defender’s Office, acknowledging both the wrongful conviction and the inability to prosecute the person now linked to the crime.
Judge Vacates the Conviction
On Thursday, a Ventura County judge approved the District Attorney’s motion to vacate Luna’s conviction and legally declare him factually innocent.
District Attorney Erik Nasarenko emphasized the importance of the decision, stating that prosecutors have a responsibility not only to seek convictions but also to review the integrity of past cases when credible new evidence emerges.
“While we can’t undo the past, we can use the power of DNA technology to exonerate the wrongfully convicted,” Nasarenko said. “This case shows why reviewing old sexual assault kits is critical.”
A First for Ventura County’s Conviction Integrity Unit
This case marks the first exoneration achieved through the collaboration of the county’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) and the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI). The initiative, launched in 2022, seeks to locate, test, and analyze previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits — many of which date back decades.
The ongoing review effort is funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Justice, along with local county support. Officials say the goal is twofold:
- to identify serial offenders who evaded detection due to outdated forensic tools, and
- to correct wrongful convictions where evidence was never examined with modern testing.
Support for Survivors Still Available
Ventura County officials also stressed that victims of past sexual assaults can access information about:
- the status of their kits,
- ongoing testing,
- investigative updates, and
- support services, including free counseling in some cases.
The county’s sexual assault kit initiative maintains a secure online portal where survivors can check progress and receive resources without needing to contact law enforcement directly.
A Case That Redefines Accountability
Luna’s exoneration does not erase the decades lost or the weight of a wrongful conviction, but the ruling underscores a shift toward transparency and accountability within the justice system.
As more untested kits undergo modern DNA analysis, Ventura County prosecutors say this will not be the last time past cases are re-examined — and possibly overturned.
Your Thoughts?
How do you feel about DNA exonerations in decades-old cases? Should states eliminate statutes of limitations for serious crimes when new evidence emerges? Share your views in the comments.
