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PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dad charged with incest after allegedly assaulting daughter
Makayla Rene Settles moved to California to chase her dreams. Two days later, her family says her biological father sexually assaulted her. She was 18. She died five months later. Now her family is fighting to make sure her accused attacker faces trial.
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VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – The prosecution of a Ventura County man for the alleged sexual assault of his daughter continues Tuesday amidst intense public scrutiny and a grieving family’s demand for justice.
What we know:
Makayla Renee Settles had just turned 18 when she left Raleigh, North Carolina and moved to Moorpark in July 2025 to live with her biological father, Stephen Vincent Chavez.
Her family said she was looking for a fresh start and planned to attend Moorpark College and build a new life.
But just two days later, Settles was hospitalized for an alleged sexual assault. According to her family, a rape kit confirmed the presence of Chavez’s DNA.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: California dad charged with incest after allegedly assaulting daughter; DA may drop case
Chavez was arrested and charged with felony incest, taking advantage of a position of trust, and providing alcohol to a minor. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $250,000 bail.
Five months later, Settles died by suicide, according to her family.
Stephen Vincent Chavez and Makayla Renee Settles / FOX 11
What we don't know:
The primary legal hurdle remains whether the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office will proceed to a full jury trial.
While the DA maintains they are "continuing to prosecute," the family reports being told the lack of a living witness to testify makes the case's future uncertain.
What they're saying:
"If I’m being honest, it feels like I handed my daughter to the devil," said Settles' mother, Carolina Sandoval.
It's unclear if the DNA evidence will be deemed sufficient to secure a conviction without Settles’ direct testimony.
"The DA was essentially saying, ‘We don’t know if we have a case because she’s no longer here,’ and when she told me that, I immediately said, ‘No, we’re not going to let that slide,’" said Sandoval.
Makayla Renee Settles / FOX 11
What's next:
Tuesday's hearing is a standard pretrial proceeding to address the status of the case and set future dates.
The family and their supporters have vowed to remain a constant presence at the courthouse to ensure the case moves toward a jury trial, despite the challenges posed by the absence of Settles' testimony.
The Source: This report is based on official statements from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and direct interviews with the family of Makayla Rene Settles conducted by FOX 11's Gina Silva. Information regarding court dates and bail status was verified through Ventura County judicial records and the prosecution's public filings.