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.

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.