A Moorpark father who admitted to having an incestuous relationship with his 18-year-old biological daughter dodged state prison this week, sparking outrage after prosecutors pushed for the maximum punishment, describing a clear abuse of trust and authority.
Stephen Vincent Chavez, 41, was sentenced to one year in jail and three years of felony probation after pleading guilty in May to one felony count of incest and one misdemeanor count of providing alcohol to a minor, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
The lighter sentence came despite prosecutors portraying the case as a serious betrayal of parental authority. An open plea agreement presented directly to Ventura County Superior Court Judge Dusty Kawai bypassed the prosecution’s sentencing recommendation.
Under California law, felony incest carries a maximum sentence of only three years. Kawai claimed he could not legally impose that maximum term because the defendant lacked a prior criminal record.
Prosecutors also said they reviewed whether additional charges, including rape, could be filed, but concluded incest was the only felony charge supported by law, evidence, and admissible facts.
The case stems from events in July 2025, when Chavez’s daughter, Makayla Rene Settles, was staying at his Moorpark home.
Prosecutors said the situation escalated after a family gathering where alcohol was consumed, followed by Chavez purchasing more alcohol for himself and his daughter to drink at home. “After a day of drinking at a family gathering, Chavez purchased additional alcohol for himself and his daughter to consume at home. Chavez then engaged in sexual intercourse with her,” the district attorney’s office said in a news release. Makayla died by suicide in December 2025.
Chavez’s sentence has triggered intense backlash, particularly because prosecutors sought a three-year state prison term, which the court rejected.
“Several members of Makayla’s family addressed the court during sentencing and provided emotional victim impact statements describing the lasting trauma caused by the defendant’s actions and the devastating loss of Makayla,” the news release said.
Deputy District Attorney Tessa McCarty sharply condemned Chavez’s actions, calling out what she described as a flagrant betrayal of parental trust.
“Chavez exploited his position as a father, violated his daughter’s trust, supplied her with alcohol, and engaged in criminal conduct that forever altered the course of her life,” McCarty said.
She added, “While we respect the court’s decision, we continue to believe a state prison sentence was warranted under the facts of this case.”
Kawai, a registered Democrat, also faced sharp criticism from prosecutors after shaving two years off the recommended sentence for an Oxnard driver who killed two people on Feb. 12, 2023, while speeding at 108 mph.
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