The Ventura County District Attorney's Office announced that Vidal Vargas Morales, 62, was found guilty of a felony charge of lewd acts on a 15-year-old child. Notably, the jury also upheld the special allegation that Morales exploited his position of trust when committing the crime.
Morales, whose job was to guide youth as a church coordinator, began his indecent advances in 2013 with both inappropriate messaging and physical fondling of the victim. Additional victims, with claims dating back as far as 1999, also testified against Morales.
Morales's sentencing is set for January 23, 2024. As of now, he remains out of custody on bail amounting to $20,000. Deputy District Attorney Michael Kern, who was at the forefront of the prosecution, expressed his gratitude towards the bravery of the victims for coming forward. "I am grateful to the victim for her courage in reporting the crime and testifying at trial," Kern stated, emphasizing the significance of their testimonies in exposing Morales's predatory pattern over the years.
