VENTURA, Calif. – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Vidal Vargas Morales (DOB 12/30/60), of Fillmore, was convicted by a Ventura County jury of one felony count of lewd acts upon a child who was 15 years old. The court also found true the special allegation that Morales took advantage of a position of trust and confidence to commit the offense.

In 2013, Morales worked as a youth coordinator for a church in Fillmore. During that time, he met the victim who attended catechism classes. Between October and November 2013, Morales began inappropriate communications with the victim, both verbally and through text messages. In early November 2013, Morales grabbed and fondled the victim. The crime was reported years later. Other victims who had similar experiences with Morales testified during the trial.

Deputy District Attorney Michael Kern, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Unit, prosecuted the case.

“I am grateful to the victim for her courage in reporting the crime and testifying at trial,” Mr. Kern said. “I am also thankful to the additional victims who testified about their experiences—dating back to 1999—demonstrating the defendant’s continued pattern of criminal conduct. While today’s verdict can never fully heal the damage done by the defendant to these victims, I am hopeful that this conviction will help in the continuing healing process and send a message to other offenders that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in our community.”

Morales is scheduled to be sentenced on January 23, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. in courtroom 23 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains out of custody on $20,000 bail pending sentencing.

Case: 2016023855
Defendant Information:
Vidal Vargas Morales (DOB 12/30/60)
Fillmore

Charges:
PC 288(c)(1) – Lewd act upon a child
Special Allegations:
CRC 4.421(a)(11) – The defendant took advantage of a position of trust and confidence to commit the offense

On November 3, 2023, detectives with the Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit arrested Ricky Barragan, David Vargas, and a male juvenile for being involved in an illegal marijuana delivery service which sold marijuana to minors.

During the month of October 2023, a Camarillo School Resource Officer (SRO) received information regarding a marijuana delivery service which sold marijuana to residents of the City of Camarillo and other cities located in Ventura County. There was also information that the delivery service was selling marijuana to minors.

The information was relayed to detectives with the Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit who began an investigation into Won’t Stop Collective. As a result of the investigation, detectives learned that Ricky Barragan, David Vargas, and a male juvenile were involved in the delivery service.

On November 2, 2023, Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit detectives obtained a signed search warrant for Barragan, Vargas, the juvenile and their residences located on the 2600 Block of Sextant Avenue in the City of Port Hueneme, 1000 Block of Falcon Way in the City of Fillmore, and 300 Block of West Harvard Boulevard in the City of Santa Paula.

On November 3, 2023, the Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit with the assistance of the Camarillo Directed Enforcement Unit, West County Special Enforcement Unit, and the Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit served the search warrant at the locations. During the service of the warrant, Barragan, Vargas, and the juvenile were arrested for their involvement in the unlawful sale of marijuana.

During the service of the search warrant at Barragan’s residence, an unsecured firearm and loaded magazine were located within a few feet of a sleeping three-year old child. Detectives seized several illegal firearms and evidence related to the marijuana delivery service from the residences.

Barragan and Vargas were booked into the Ventura County Main Jail for violations of Health and Safety Code 11360(a) / Sales of Marijuana, Health and Safety Code 11361(b) / Sales of Marijuana to a Juvenile, and Penal Code 182(a)(1) / Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. The juvenile was booked into the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center where he was ultimately released pending a future court date.

The Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit would like to remind the public of the importance of proper firearm storage. Leaving firearms where they can be accessed by juveniles is not only dangerous, but illegal.

The Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit is comprised of a sergeant and four detectives, whose focus is assisting patrol services with the investigation of various crimes including, but not limited to, the investigation of illegal firearms, gang related crimes, and graffiti vandalism.

Nature of Incident: Marijuana Delivery Service and Illegal Firearms Investigation
Report Number: 23-1400770
Location:
2600 Block Sextant Avenuem Port Hueneme
1000 Block of Falcon Way, Fillmore
300 Block of West Harvard Boulevard, Santa Paula

Date & Time: 11/3/2023 @ 7:00 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit, Camarillo Directed Enforcement Unit, West County Special Enforcement Unit, Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit, Camarillo Community Resource Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent
(S) Ricky Barragan Port Hueneme 29
(S) David Vargas Fillmore 20
(S) Juvenile Male Santa Paula 17

Prepared by: Senior Deputy Steve Krupnik
Approved: Captain Jason Hendren

This year’s annual Fillmore Community Holiday Giveaway will be held Saturday, December 16th from 9am to noon at the City of Fillmore Fire Station, 711 Landeros Lane. This is the annual event where holiday commodities are given to the children who reside within the Fillmore Unified School District boundaries. Anyone who is sick is asked not to attend and arrangements may be made for home delivery. Commodities given will be age-appropriate toys, new jackets/coats, reading books and socks. As is customary, a holiday bag of groceries will also be available for each family while supply last. Santa will be available for a picture with each child. As a reminder, this event is only for children who reside within the Fillmore Unified School District boundaries, you must provide proof of residency within the School District such as a utility bill, report card or driver’s license.

This year’s sponsors of the event include our local Fillmore Police and Fire Departments, Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid, One Step A La Vez, Soroptimist International of Fillmore, Rotary International of Fillmore, Fillmore Lions Club, Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Fillmore Citizen’s Patrol, Fillmore Women’s Service Club, Fillmore Friends of the Library, Super A, Salvation Army, the Fillmore Fire Foundation and numerous other generous personal and business donors. Our sponsor list will be updated week to week.

If you would like to help donate to the Fillmore Community Holiday Giveaway, you may give new toys, socks, reading books or canned food; drop boxes are located at the Fillmore Police Station, Fillmore City Fire Station, local banks and Diamond Realty. Monetary donations are preferred this year to reduce person to person contact, checks may be made out to “The Fillmore Fire Foundation” with a notation of “Holiday Giveaway”. Donations may be mailed to Fillmore Fire Foundation, PO Box 331, Fillmore, CA 93016 or for drop off, stop by the Fillmore City Fire Station, 711 Landeros Lane.

Courtesy Brandy Hollis

Brandon with Heritage Valley Blazer Board Members

Megan Hadley, who was on-scene at the time of the accident, comes bearing gifts of dinner and cards. Irma Alvarez with tears, hugs her and calls her her angel. Doctors told Irma if it wasn’t for Megan’s quick thinking to stabilize him with the help of an unknown woman, along with keeping him conscious, he might not have lived. Her daughter, Zoey Hadley, called 911, while her mom rendered assistance. Doctors also advised Irma if it wasn’t also for Brandon’s helmet, he very well might not be here today. The bone was still protruding on his forehead when transported to Children’s Hospital LA. The next day they were able to perform surgery to close the large holes, which are healing beautifully. Brandon had to undergo this surgery awake and cringed talking about it. In the next week or so the doctors will advise if Brandon has to undergo intensive surgery based on how he is healing.

Heritage Valley Blazers Board Members came by to visit, play video games and bearing presents. They made a considerable donation towards family expenses for his recovery and brought some cool HV Blazers fan gear.
Brandon’s hallway is covered in get well cards and his soccer picture featured in the Gazette is framed. His mother, Irma, is so overcome by the outpouring of the community; she never realized how much it really cared or how good someone else’s well wishes and deeds could make a person feel. All of your prayers have been working and she asks for continued prayers. She told me that when Brandon is healed, she wants to become more involved doing compassionate work in the community that has been a rock for her in her time in need.

Brandon has smiles and is healing, but he doesn’t like that his mom has to cut his favorite shirts to get them over his neck brace. Besides playing sports, Brandon is very musically talented; plays the violin and accordion. He was carrying his instrument home that fateful day. I can’t wait for him to get better so I can hear him play in person for myself.
If you have any information regarding the accident the family asks you contact them at alvarezja_93015@ yahoo.com.

Pictured above is Arnold Munoz and Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez, riding in last Saturday’s Lions Club Christmas Parade.

This town sure is a small one. Seems like you see and meet people you know everywhere. I originally met Arnold Munoz back some 10ish years ago when I coached my daughter and they sent him in to referee the loud coaches’ game (must have been the other coach). Looking back, I can see why Arnold has a calm and quiet soul, but his passion for keeping this program going and growing is evident in this year’s enrollment and community involvement. He has been involved in the program since 2007 as a coach and referee and then the next year became part of the AYSO Board. In 2012 he was named the Regional Coach Administer and then in 2015 he was elected to Regional Commissioner where he still sits today. You can always catch Arnold at the soccer fields before anyone else arrives, or wait till the end of a hot Saturday game and you might catch him under the shade. During the day he is chalking the fields, setting up, coaching and refereeing, plus all the other duties one takes on in that position. Arnold’s drive and determination has led AYSO242 to be the largest youth organization in Fillmore with approximately 700 players. Before I took this picture and before the start of the parade, Arnold proudly pointed to the magnet sticker on the side of the truck that read Bunnin Chevrolet. I know in previous articles I have mentioned how much they do, but here they are doing it again. AMAZING!

Sitting alongside Arnold in the Lions Club Christmas Parade is Nancy Rodriguez Hernandez. Nancy is currently the AYSO Epic Coordinator and the truck bed held the participants of the Epic Program. AYSO Epic focuses on children who are on the spectrum along with the rest of the special needs community. This completed AYSO Epic’s second successful full year here in Fillmore. Nancy not only has been in radio broadcasting for 25 years, she is also a commissioner on the city of Fillmore’s Cultural, Arts and Recreation Commission. With her son in mind, her biggest passion is for inclusivity through sensory friendly environments. That includes many of the city’s events, which are just starting to roll out thanks to her hard work and determination. She is blessed, like so many of us are, with small town willingness to work together. The city of Fillmore, Estrellas Market, Fire Chief Keith Gurrola and Fillmore City Manager David Rowlands are all helping in making our city more inclusive for all. She is also working to start an inclusive basketball team through the city as well. Nancy is driven and passionate, a true momma bear doing everything in her power to empower her son the best way she knows how.
Nancy and I met while working with a non-profit Charitable Givings Committee (Boys and Girls Club of SCV).That year saw a sizable donation and was very exciting. Next time, Heather Swetman and I were setting up a tree for her company Escalera Pest Control, that she sponsored in memory of Ari Larson at the Boys and Girls Club SVG Light Up the Season event. She was at the soccer field and this past year I have come to know her sweet, friendly, compassionate personality. Her desire to make the world more harmonious for not only her son but the entire community is crystal clear by the programs she is putting into place. I know I for one support her movement. The kids are our future and we have to be mindful that everyone deserves to play.

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On November 21, at 2:46pm, Fillmore Fire, AMR paramedics and Fillmore Police responded to a vehicle vs pedestrian at Meadowlark Drive and C Street. The pedestrian, 11-year-old Brandon Alvarez, was coming home from school on an electric scooter when the accident occurred. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, involving a broken neck and brain bleed. The driver of the vehicle remained on-scene. Brandon was later transported to Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. He had just finished soccer playoffs the prior weekend (Boys Jr. Flashes 12U AYSO) and was gearing up for The Bad Boys basketball season. Donations for Brandon’s family may be made at this link: https://mealtrain.com/m3wogl. The Alvarez family is asking for prayers for Brandon, who is thankfully showing improvement. UPDATE: Brandon is home! See family message on page 10.

Courtesy Fillmore Fire Department

The Fillmore Fire Department in conjunction with the Fillmore Fire Foundation is kicking off the annual Holiday Toy Drive this week. Collection drop off boxes for new toys are available at the Fillmore Police and City Fire Station, City Hall, local banks and Diamond Realty. As part of the Toy Drive, on Sunday, December 3rd, the Fillmore Fire Foundation will be holding the annual BBQ Chicken Dinner Fundraiser to collect donations that are used to purchase hundreds of toys for children in the Fillmore/Piru area. A complete chicken dinner meal is prepared for anyone wanting to donate fifteen dollars ($15) or a brand-new toy valued at fifteen dollars or more. This year, the dinner will be held as a drive through only at the Fillmore High School Cafeteria in the Horseshoe area, enter off First St. Dinner will be served from 5:00 -7:00 PM. The hundreds of toys purchased from this event will be combined with those that are donated by the Community and then distributed on Saturday, December 16th, in a huge Community Holiday Giveaway event. To order your tickets for the December 3rd BBQ Chicken Dinner call 805-524-1500 ext 226. or 805-815-0328 or stop by the Fillmore City Fire Station, 711 Landeros Lane. New Toys may also be dropped off at the Fire Station.