A California father has been sentenced to one year in county jail after pleading guilty to incest and providing alcohol to a minor. Stephen Vincent Chavez, 41, admitted to having sex with his 18-year-old daughter, Makayla Settles, in July 2025, after plying her with alcohol. Settles died by suicide five months later, in December 2025.
The sentence, which also includes three years of probation, has drawn criticism from prosecutors and Makayla's family, who argue that a harsher penalty was warranted. The Ventura County District Attorney's office had sought a three-year state prison term, the maximum for felony incest under California law. Prosecutors stated that Chavez's plea agreement bypassed their sentencing recommendation and was presented directly to Ventura County Superior Court Judge Dusty Kawai.
Judge Kawai reportedly stated he could not legally impose the maximum term because Chavez had no prior criminal record. However, prosecutors believe more evidence, including a rape kit and statements from Settles, was available to pursue more serious charges. In a statement, the district attorney's office noted that Makayla's relatives provided victim impact statements detailing the trauma and loss caused by Chavez's actions.
Deputy District Attorney Tessa McCarty condemned Chavez's conduct, saying he exploited his position as a father and betrayed his daughter's trust. "Chavez exploited his position as a father, violated his daughter’s trust, supplied her with alcohol, and engaged in criminal conduct that forever altered the course of her life," McCarty said, adding, "While we respect the court’s decision, we continue to believe a state prison sentence was warranted under the facts of this case."
Makayla's family has established a GoFundMe to raise funds for a civil lawyer, aiming to pursue justice for their daughter and others in similar situations. They expressed dismay that evidence might not be usable because Makayla cannot speak for herself. The family wrote, "Despite clear evidence, including a rape kit, a statement to the police, and a recorded interview at the safe house, the Ventura County District Attorney has told us that none of this can be used because Makayla is no longer here to speak for herself."
This case highlights a pattern of scrutiny for Judge Kawai, who recently drew attention for deviating from prosecutors' recommendations in another case involving a fatal speeding accident. In that instance, Kawai imposed a sentence shorter than what prosecutors had sought for the defendant, Sharbel Touma.