A Moorpark father who admitted to having an incestuous relationship together with his 18-year-old organic daughter dodged state jail this week, sparking outrage after prosecutors pushed for the utmost punishment, describing a transparent abuse of belief and authority.
Stephen Vincent Chavez, 41, was sentenced to at least one 12 months in jail and three years of felony probation after pleading responsible in Might to at least one felony rely of incest and one misdemeanor rely of offering alcohol to a minor, in accordance with the Ventura County District Legal professional’s Workplace.
The lighter sentence got here regardless of prosecutors portraying the case as a critical betrayal of parental authority. An open plea settlement offered on to Ventura County Superior Court docket Choose Dusty Kawai bypassed the prosecution’s sentencing suggestion.
Beneath California legislation, felony incest carries a most sentence of solely three years.
Kawai claimed he couldn’t legally impose that most time period as a result of the defendant lacked a previous felony report.
Prosecutors additionally mentioned they reviewed whether or not further costs, together with rape, might be filed, however concluded incest was the one felony cost supported by legislation, proof, and admissible details.
The case stems from occasions in July 2025, when Chavez’s daughter, Makayla Rene Settles, was staying at his Moorpark house.
Prosecutors mentioned the scenario escalated after a household gathering the place alcohol was consumed, adopted by Chavez buying extra alcohol for himself and his daughter to drink at house.
“After a day of ingesting at a household gathering, Chavez bought further alcohol for himself and his daughter to devour at house. Chavez then engaged in sexual activity along with her,” the district legal professional’s workplace mentioned in a information launch.
Makayla died by suicide in December 2025.
Chavez’s sentence has triggered intense backlash, notably as a result of prosecutors sought a three-year state jail time period, which the courtroom rejected.
“A number of members of Makayla’s household addressed the courtroom throughout sentencing and supplied emotional sufferer influence statements describing the lasting trauma brought on by the defendant’s actions and the devastating lack of Makayla,” the information launch mentioned.
Deputy District Legal professional Tessa McCarty sharply condemned Chavez’s actions, calling out what she described as a flagrant betrayal of parental belief.
“Chavez exploited his place as a father, violated his daughter’s belief, provided her with alcohol, and engaged in felony conduct that endlessly altered the course of her life,” McCarty mentioned.
She added, “Whereas we respect the courtroom’s resolution, we proceed to consider a state jail sentence was warranted beneath the details of this case.”
Kawai, a registered Democrat, additionally confronted sharp criticism from prosecutors after shaving two years off the really useful sentence for an Oxnard driver who killed two individuals on Feb. 12, 2023, whereas rushing at 108 mph.
