{"id":2619656,"date":"2026-06-26T16:48:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T20:48:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/socal-father-dodges-prison-despite-pleading-guilty-to-incest-with-daughter-who-then-killed-herself\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T16:53:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T20:53:02","slug":"socal-father-dodges-prison-despite-pleading-guilty-to-incest-with-daughter-who-then-killed-herself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/socal-father-dodges-prison-despite-pleading-guilty-to-incest-with-daughter-who-then-killed-herself\/","title":{"rendered":"SoCal Father Dodges Prison, Despite Pleading Guilty to Incest with Daughter Who Then Killed Herself"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsocal-father-dodges-prison-despite-pleading-guilty-to-incest-with-daughter-who-then-killed-herself%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2619656&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A California father named Stephen Vincent Chavez, age 41, pleaded guilty too incest adn providing alcohol to his 18-year-old daughter, Makayla Rene Settles. The incident occurred in July 2025, shortly after makayla moved from north Carolina to stay wiht her father. Following a family gathering, Chavez bought her alcohol and then engaged in sexual intercourse with her. She was hospitalized with confirmed DNA evidence, and later, Makayla committed suicide in December 2025. Chavez, who had no <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/illegal-alien-arrested-for-violent-carjackings-shooting-16-year-old-boy\/\" title=\"Illegal Alien Arrested for Violent Carjackings, Shooting 16-Year-Old Boy\">prior criminal record<\/a>, was sentenced to one year in Ventura County Jail and three years of probation-avoiding the maximum potential prison sentence due to his clean record. The sentencing sparked online criticism for its perceived leniency and for the judge\u2019s political affiliation,with some suggesting that more severe punishment was warranted considering the severity of the crime and the victimS tragic death.The case has also drawn controversy as the judge previously handled another case involving vehicular manslaughter.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>A California father who plied his daughter with alcohol and then had sex with her will avoid state prison time despite the fact that the young woman killed herself after the crime.<\/p>\n<p>Stephen Vincent Chavez, a 41-year-old Moorpark, California man, pleaded guilty in May to incest and providing alcohol to a minor, according to reports.<\/p>\n<p>On Tuesday, a judge announced that he would be spending a year in Ventura County Jail \u2014 dodging the state prison system entirely \u2014 and three years of felony probation.<\/p>\n<p>While the prosecution sought the maximum sentence of three years in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/illegal-aliens-prison-offenders\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">state prison<\/a>, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Dusty Kawai said he could not impose a harsher sentence because Chavez had no prior criminal record, the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/06\/24\/us-news\/moorpark-father-stephen-chavez-sentenced-to-jail-avoids-prison-after-daughters-suicide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New York Post<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile we respect the court\u2019s decision, we continue to believe a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/murdaugh-signs-guilty-plea-agreement-before-judge\/\" title=\"Murdaugh Signs Guilty Plea Agreement Before Judge\">state prison sentence<\/a> was warranted under the facts of this case,\u201d said Deputy District Attorney Tessa McCarty.<\/p>\n<p>The crime occurred in July of 2025, two days after 18-year-old Makayla Rene Settles, Chavez\u2019s 18-year-old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/dad-raped-impregnated-special-needs-daughter-sentenced-mere-house-arrest-woke-judge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biological daughter<\/a>, arrived from Raleigh, North Carolina, to stay at her father\u2019s home, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxla.com\/news\/justice-makayla-settles-father-incest-court\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KTTV-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter 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,\u201d the district attorney\u2019s office wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/da.venturacounty.gov\/mediacenter\/newsreleases\/#docaccess-02408644e20ac14a0e5593aca9dc9994\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The young woman was hospitalized after the attack, KTTV reported. \u201cAccording to her family, a rape kit confirmed the presence of Chavez\u2019s DNA,\u201d the station noted.<\/p>\n<p>As bad as that situation was, it wasn\u2019t long before it got even worse. Makayla committed suicide in December, the New York Post reported.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors said that while she had moved to Moorpark to live with her father and attend college.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSeveral members of Makayla\u2019s family addressed the court during sentencing and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >provided emotional victim impact statements describing<\/a> the lasting trauma caused by the defendant\u2019s actions and the devastating loss of Makayla,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n<p>However, Chavez\u2019s lack of criminal history \u2014 combined with the prosecution declining to file rape or additional <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/la-county-pays-828m-settlement-400-claims-sexual-abuse-employees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sexual abuse<\/a> charges \u2014 led to the comparatively light sentence.<\/p>\n<p>Three years in state prison is the maximum penalty in California for incest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChavez exploited his position as a father, violated his daughter\u2019s trust, supplied her with alcohol, and engaged in criminal conduct that forever altered the course of her life,\u201d McCarty said, according to the New York Post.<\/p>\n<p>The sentence drew backlash online, too, with many highlighting both the prosecution\u2019s failure to charge Chavez with non-consensual sexual abuse and noting the judge was a Democrat.<\/p>\n<p>One tagged President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro, saying, \u201ccan you please do something about these democrat judges that give these monsters a slap on the wrist? Her own father got her drunk and rap*d her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many noted that Kawai is a Democrat.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/POTUS?\">@POTUS<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JudgeJeanine?\">@JudgeJeanine<\/a>, can you please do something about these democrat judges that give these monsters a slap on the wrist? Her own father got her drunk and rap*d her.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Barbara Borjas (@BarbaraBor22976) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BarbaraBor22976\/status\/2069864331513417762?\">June 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Another liberal democratic judge. Light on these types of crimes<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 DeeRod \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2\ud83e\udd85 (@818Rod805) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/818Rod805\/status\/2069596245371609226?\">June 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, Kawai drew criticism in a separate case involving a 23-year-old driver who pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular manslaughter, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/ktla.com\/news\/california\/ventura-108mph-crash-prison-sentence\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">KTLA-TV<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The driver was sentenced to three years and four months in prison over objections from prosecutors, who argued he deserved a longer sentence due to the fact he was traveling at over 100 miles per hour at the time of the accident, the station reported.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBased on the defendant\u2019s extreme speed, the preventable nature of this tragedy, and the fact that two lives were lost, we respectfully asked the court to impose five years, four months in state prison,\u201d said Chief Deputy District Attorney Paul Nu\u00f1ez said.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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