Edward Barron Found Guilty in Ventura County

OCT 13 -- On Tuesday, October 11, 2005, Edward Eric Barron was convicted in Ventura County Superior Court on four State of California felony charges of narcotics trafficking and assault with a firearm.

During February and March 2002, as part of the Santa Paula, California, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mobile Enforcement Team (MET) deployment, DEA Special Agents participated in an investigation of Edward Barron and his criminal associates in the Santa Paula area.

During this investigation, Barron conspired to sell methamphetamine on two separate occasions to a DEA operative. As a result of these two methamphetamine sales, on April 17, 2002, DEA Special Agent’s went to Barron’s residence in Santa Paula, California, in an effort to arrest him. Upon encountering the DEA arresting agents, Barron assaulted DEA Special Agents with a firearm. Subsequently, in an effort to stop the threat posed by Barron, a DEA Special Agent fired his weapon at Barron approximately three times. Barron survived his gunshot wounds but remains a quadriplegic.

Ventura County District Attorney’s Office charged Barron with one count of conspiracy (California Penal code section 182), one count of methamphetamine sales (California Health and safety code section 11379), and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury (California Penal code section 245).

Barron’s criminal trial began on September 26, 2005 and concluded on October 7, 2005. The jury reached guilty verdicts on all counts on October 11, 2005. Barron is scheduled for sentencing on November 22, 2005 and faces up to 11 years in the State of California penal system.

Other agencies participating in the investigation included the Santa Paula Police Department and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Please forward any questions to DEA Los Angeles Public Information Officer Sarah Beers at (213) 621-6827.