VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - The district attorney's office charged a Thousand Oaks man on Tuesday with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, among other sex charges and authorities believe there are additional victims.
The arrest of Douglas Whitaker came after a two-month criminal investigation by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.
In August, authorities began investigating Whitaker under suspicion of selling narcotics. During the investigation, detectives executed a search warrant at Whitaker’s home. A quantity of narcotics was seized and Whitaker was arrested for various narcotics violations. Whitaker was booked into the pre-trial detention facility and was released on his own recognizance on September 3.
During the narcotics investigation, detectives recovered evidence showing Whitaker was sexually involved with underage females, authorities said. Working with the Thousand Oaks Police Department, detectives served several more search warrants, conducted interviews and gathered additional evidence, this included seizing child pornography possessed by Whitaker.
On September 27, detectives arrested Whitaker and booked him at the East Valley Jail on various sex charges and his bail was set at $50.000.
Four days later, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office elected to file two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, one count of oral copulation of a child under 18 and one count of possession or control of child pornography.
Whitaker posted bail and was released from custody.
His next court appearance is scheduled for October 10.
Detectives believe there are additional victims. Detectives encourage any victims or anyone with information regarding Whitaker’s illegal sexual activities with minors to contact Detective Megan Yates at 805-371-8397 or email megan.yates@ventura.org.