Moorpark Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Incest & Providing Alcohol to Minor

Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Stephen Vincent Chavez (01/17/85), of Moorpark, pled guilty to felony incest and misdemeanor providing alcohol to a minor. He also admitted he took advantage of a position of trust and that the victim was particularly vulnerable.

Chavez advanced his previously scheduled court date to plead  guilty. Chavez faces a maximum of three years in state prison and a requirement to register as a  sex offender for 20 years. 

In July 2025, Chavez’s 18-year-old biological daughter, Makayla, was staying with him at his residence in Moorpark. After a day of drinking at a family gathering, Chavez purchased additional alcohol for him and his daughter to drink at home. Chavez then engaged in sexual intercourse with her. Makayla tragically took her own life in December 2025. 

“The DA’s office was pleased to see the defendant taken into custody today and will seek the  maximum confinement of three years in state prison at sentencing,” said Deputy District Attorney  Tessa McCarty. “Makayla placed her trust and well-being in the defendant’s care, moving from  North Carolina to California to start a new life with him. The defendant violated this trust and  shattered the father-daughter relationship in an unimaginable way, conduct for which prison is the  only appropriate sentence.” 

The District Attorney’s Office performed an exhaustive, comprehensive and thorough analysis of  whether Chavez could be charged with rape, an analysis that included multiple interviews,  additional forensic testing, medical evaluations and an extensive review of electronic evidence. 

After doing so and convening a team of the office’s top sexual assault prosecutors to review the findings, the District Attorney’s Office is confident that this case was properly charged based upon  the law, facts and evidence presented. 

Chavez is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the  Ventura County Superior Court. Following his guilty plea, Chavez was remanded into custody. 

Case: 2025018307 

Defendant Information: 
Stephen Vincent Chavez (DOB 01/17/85) 
Moorpark 

Charges pled guilty to: 

• PC 285 – Incest 
• BP 25658(a) – Giving alcoholic beverage to a minor 

Special allegations admitted: 

• CRC 4.421(a)(11) – The defendant took advantage of a position of trust 
• CRC 4.421(a)(3) – Victim was vulnerable