The Brief Stephen Vincent Chavez was sentenced to one year in county jail and three years of felony probation for felony incest and providing alcohol to his 18-year-old biological daughter, Makayla. Prosecutors strongly objected to the court's sentence, having requested the maximum penalty of three years in state prison due to Chavez exploiting his role as a father. Settles tragically died by suicide in December 2025, just five months after the July 2025 assault which occurred just two days after she moved to California to start a new life.



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VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - A Moorpark man has been sentenced to one year in county jail and three years of felony probation for committing incest against his 18-year-old biological daughter and providing her with alcohol.

The sentence comes despite strong objections from prosecutors, who sought the maximum prison term of three years following the young woman's tragic suicide five months after the assault.

What we know:

Stephen Vincent Chavez, 41, pleaded guilty on May 18, 2026, to felony incest and misdemeanor providing alcohol to a minor.

He also admitted to special allegations that he took advantage of a position of trust and that the victim, his biological daughter Makayla Renee Settles, was particularly vulnerable, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

The incident took place in July 2025, just two days after Settles moved from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Chavez's Moorpark home to attend college.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

After a day of drinking at a family gathering, Chavez bought additional alcohol for them to consume at home, where he then engaged in sexual intercourse with her.

Settles was hospitalized following the assault, and a rape kit confirmed the presence of Chavez's DNA.

Months later, in December 2025, Settles died by suicide.

Prior to the guilty pleas, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko directed a team of ten internal prosecutors, alongside external legal experts, to conduct an exhaustive review to see if h

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