Ventura County agreed to pay $49,999 to settle a federal civil-rights lawsuit tied to allegations that former Ventura County sheriff’s deputy Tyler Ebell abused his authority in a relationship with a woman who had been jailed. The county denied wrongdoing in the settlement.
The complaint named Nastaza Schmidt and another woman, alleging Ebell used his position to help Schmidt get out of custody and then coerced and abused her.
An internal investigation by the Sheriff’s Office found repeated misconduct, including fraternizing with an inmate, providing contraband, and using law-enforcement databases to gather information on people connected to her.
Those findings led to a dismissal order in late 2022; Ebell resigned and later surrendered his California peace-officer certification, which bars him from returning to law enforcement in the state.
Schmidt died on Feb. 28, 2023. Officials say she was found after an incident at a Thousand Oaks storage facility.
The medical examiner listed probable cardiac arrest and noted a potentially lethal level of methamphetamine in her system.
Her death removed the lawsuit’s primary eyewitness and made civil trial prospects far more difficult, according to the plaintiffs’ attorney.
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The Controversy Scaled
The controversy flared again after an Instagram photo circulated showing Ebell beside a smiling woman holding a school-issued badge under the caption, “Two of Ventura’s Best Running Backs, Tyler Ebell ’01, Lamon Fields ’85.”
The image prompted immediate outrage from parents and community members who said the badge gave Ebell the appearance of authority near students.
The post drew sharp criticism and was taken down amid the backlash.
“He doesn’t deserve to be out here smiling for the cameras like nothing ever happened,” said Cecilia Grigsby, Schmidt’s mother, who took over her daughter’s role in the suit after Nastaza’s death.
Grigsby said any settlement money will go to her grandson and demanded answers about how someone with Ebell’s personnel record could be allowed that kind of visibility around young people.
Other local commenters echoed Grigsby’s distrust and called for stronger safeguards.
One parent wrote that the episode “confirms my belief that you should never assume your kids are safe,” while others urged stricter background checks and clearer rules about who may display school credentials or appear on sidelines.
Ventura County officials say the settlement is not an admission of liability, and the sheriff’s office has reiterated that it holds employees accountable when they fall short of professional standards.
Still, the episode has left many residents asking how school-issued credentials are controlled and what protections are in place to keep students safe from anyone with a troubling personnel history.
For now, the county’s settlement closes the civil claim but not the community concern.
Parents and school leaders say the next step must be transparent policies and prompt action to prevent a repeat.
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