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Ventura County father gets 1 year in jail for incest after daughter’s suicide
By Alexa Mae Asperin at FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV)
· June 23, 2026
· 1 min read
Stephen Vincent Chavez was sentenced to a year in county jail for felony incest involving his 18-year-old biological daughter, Makayla Settles, who tragically died by suicide five months after the assault.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The sentencing of Stephen Vincent Chavez to a year in county jail for felony incest involving his biological daughter raises questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in addressing such heinous crimes. Makayla Settles' tragic death by suicide five months after the assault underscores the devastating and long-lasting impact of incest on victims. This case also highlights the need for increased support and resources for survivors of incest and other forms of sexual abuse in Los Angeles County. Local organizations that provide counseling and advocacy services for victims of sexual abuse will likely be watching this case closely, and may be preparing to offer support to others who may be affected by similar crimes. The community will be looking to see how the justice system and social services respond to prevent such tragedies in the future.
About this story
Original reporting by FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 23, 2026 ·
Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Stephen Vincent Chavez was sentenced to a year in county jail for felony incest involving his 18-year-old biological daughter, Makayla Settles, who tragically died by suicide five months after the assault.
When was this published? This article was first published on June 23, 2026 by FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Alexa Mae Asperin at FOX 11 Los Angeles (KTTV). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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