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Church youth worker sentenced to prison for molesting child

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Church youth worker sentenced to prison for molesting child

A Fillmore man who worked as a youth coordinator at a local church will spend two years in state prison for molesting a child who he met while she was attending religious classes.

Vidal Vargas Morales, 63, was sentenced on Tuesday to two years in state prison after he was convicted of one felony count of lewd acts upon a child who was 15 years old at the time.

As part of his sentence, he will also have to register as a sex offender.

Morales was convicted in December of molesting a 15-year-old girl in the fall of 2013. He began inappropriate communications with the victim both in-person and through text messages. In November 2013, he “grabbed and fondled the victim” authorities said.

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During his trial, other alleged victims testified against Morales and accused him of similar offenses.

He was also found guilty of a special allegation that he “took advantage of a position of trust” to commit the crime.

“The defendant used his position of trust and authority as a respected member of the church and Fillmore community to inflict emotional, spiritual, and ultimately, sexual abuse against the victim,” said Ventura County Deputy District Attorney Michael Kern. “The severity of the sentence reflects the severity of the conduct. And while this sentence can never fully remedy the harm suffered by the victim in this case, hopefully it serves as one step in this continued healing process.”

Morales is currently at the Ventura County Main Jail and is expected back in court on Jan. 31 for a restitution hearing, the D.A.’s Office says.

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Los Angeles, Ca

L.A. police in pursuit of suspected car thief

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L.A. police in pursuit of suspected car thief

Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department are in pursuit of a person behind the wheel of a vehicle that has been reported stolen. Preliminary, though unconfirmed, details suggest the suspect stole the vehicle, a 2012 Hyundai, in downtown L.A., near the intersection of 7th and Figueroa streets. The suspect is believed to have struck […]

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Los Angeles, Ca

2 women killed after being struck by BMW in Orange County intersection

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2 women killed after being struck by BMW in Orange County intersection

An investigation is underway after two women were struck and killed by a driver in Orange County on Monday night. Dispatchers received multiple 911 calls around 9 p.m. reporting that a BMW had hit two pedestrians at the intersection of Magnolia and Cerritos avenues in Stanton, an Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson confirmed. When deputies […]

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Los Angeles, Ca

Jurors to decide who's financially responsible for Iskander boys' deaths

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Jurors to decide who's financially responsible for Iskander boys' deaths

Closing arguments were held today in the civil trial to determine the financial responsibility for the deaths of 11-year-old Mark Iskander and 8-year-old Jacob Iskander, who were hit and killed while crossing the street with their family in Westlake Village in September of 2020. Jurors will decide how much responsibility two defendants bear for the […]

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