An 18-year-old who moved to California to pursue school and work was allegedly sexually assaulted by her biological father just two days after arriving, and her family says she died months later. As court proceedings get underway, relatives and supporters say they are prepared to press Ventura County prosecutors hard to take the case all the way to trial.
Charges and court records
Ventura County court records identify the defendant as Stephen Vincent Chavez in case No. 2025018307 and list an alleged offense date of July 21, 2025. The public docket shows a felony count of incest (Penal Code 285), alleged sentencing enhancements that he took advantage of a position of trust and that the victim was vulnerable, and a misdemeanor count for selling alcohol to a minor. An early disposition conference is scheduled next Tuesday in Ventura so the court and attorneys can review the charges and discuss next steps.
Family account and fundraiser
According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, the victim, identified by family as Makayla Rene Settles, had recently moved from out of state and told relatives two days after arriving that she had been assaulted by her father. The family’s GoFundMe fundraiser says Settles later died in December and that investigators collected a rape kit and recorded a safe house interview, details the family says prosecutors are weighing as they decide whether to move forward. Organizers say they are raising money to hire civil counsel and to push for accountability while the criminal case unfolds.
Legal hurdles prosecutors face
Because Settles is no longer available to testify, prosecutors will have to navigate constitutional and evidentiary limits on using certain out of court statements and other material at trial. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Giles v. California and later California rulings have kept the forfeiture by wrongdoing and dying declaration exceptions narrowly drawn, so judges must find a strong legal basis before letting juries hear testimonial statements without live cross-examination. In practice, that tends to push prosecutors to lean on forensic evidence, contemporaneous records and recorded interviews while the court decides which, if any, exceptions apply, with legal commentary and appellate opinions describing a cautious, case by case approach.
Community response and what to expect next
Supporters have organized a demonstration outside the Ventura County Government Center ahead of next Tuesday’s hearing, according to local event listings that direct people to the Hall of Justice on S. Victoria Avenue. Family members and advocates say they plan to be at the courthouse urging the district attorney to pursue the case, and they have used the GoFundMe page to keep public attention on the allegations. The district attorney’s office has not issued a public statement tied to the fundraiser or the planned demonstration as of publication.
Next Tuesday’s early disposition conference will give the district attorney, defense counsel and a judge a chance to review the prosecution’s file and discuss whether the case should move toward trial, according to court records. Relatives say they will keep pushing for a full prosecution while advocates watch how the county handles the evidence and claims.
