A suspect has been arrested following a burglary at Villanova Preparatory School, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The arrest occurred after deputies from the Ojai Patrol Station were dispatched to a report of a trespasser on January 24, 2026. The deputies were called to the scene at around 6:33 a.m. and discovered that an adult male had made forced entry into a secured dormitory and was in the process of attempting to breach a closet, with the presumed intent to commit theft.
The suspect, identified as Houston Scott, a 34-year-old transient from Ojai, was confronted by school personnel and chose to quickly flee the premises. Swift law enforcement response and surveillance footage allowed officials to successfully locate Scott later the same morning, leading to his arrest. In their investigation, detectives found Scott to be in possession of burglary tools, which contributed to his apprehension.
After being taken into custody, Scott was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura, with his bail set at $100,000 as stated in the official release. The Ventura County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and criminal complaint against those responsible for the crime, providing an avenue for anonymous tipping. Those with information can call 800-222-TIPS (8477), as the call is not recorded and confidentiality is maintained…