Former LAPD Detective and Convicted Rapist Michael Brambles Pleads Not Guilty to Ventura County Charges for 1994 Kidnapping
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – A former LAPD detective and convicted rapist, Michael Douglas Brambles, pled not guilty to charges connected to a 1994 Thousand Oaks kidnapping for robbery.
Brambles was arrested on Aug. 12 of this year for charges of kidnapping to commit a robbery while using a firearm as well as multiple aggravating factors including the crime involved a sex offense with the use of a weapon and that the crime was carried out in a manner that demonstrates planning or professionalism shared the Ventura County District Attorney's Office last month.
Local prosecutors announced the charges during a press conference that included the survivor, only identified publicly as SW, of the April 19, 1994, attack at Arabella Boutique in Thousand Oaks.
"Without her courage, bravery and resolve to once again face the person who allegedly attacked her, we would not be here today," said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. "Despite the passage of time and the long road ahead, SW is committed to seeing Michael Brambles held responsible for these violent accusations from 32 years ago, and so are we."
According to prosecutors, Brambles is alleged to have pointed a handgun at S.W. as she was closing the business, forced her into a backroom of the store, and tied her hands behind her back before sexually assaulting her.
Notably, Brambles is not facing charges related to the sexual assault because the statute of limitations has expired explained the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Brambles then allegedly stole property from the business before fleeing the scene noted the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
S.W. called 911 afterwards and deputies responded to the scene shared the local prosecutor's office.
Within months, investigators identified Brambles as a suspect, but he was already being prosecuted in Los Angeles County for an extensive crime spree involving 18 different cases which included armed robberies and sexual assaults stated the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Ultimately, the former detective was convicted of 26 counts -including convictions for using a firearm in each case and multiple sexual assaults- and sentenced to 102 years in state prison noted the Ventura Count District Attorney's Office.
Due to the length of his sentence, Ventura County dismissed its local case against Brambles with S.W.'s permission as she believed he would remain in prison for the remainder of his natural life shared the local prosecutor's office.
In 2020, Brambles was released on parole after serving 26 years of his original sentence and investigators looking into the closed case noted he had been released without ever facing charges for his alleged crimes in Ventura County acknowledged the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
"A few months ago, when investigators from the Ventura County District Attorney's Office contacted me, I was shocked to hear not only that this man was walking free, but that he had been out of prison for six years," stated S.W. during a press conference in August. "The justice that I and his other victims deserved was denied when he was only required to serve a fraction of the sentence he earned. I am thankful to have this opportunity now to seek justice for myself and for his other victims."
Brambles is currently scheduled for an early disposition conference on Sep. 22, 2026, and he faces a maximum sentence of 12 years to life in state prison if convicted on all charged counts detailed the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
