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# Prosecutors lay out case against Vargas
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/prosecutors-lay-out-case-against-vargas/
- Published: 2005-09-20T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:48:10.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*One witness said she was forced by police to testify*

LAX COURTHOUSE — Prosecutors laid out their case on Monday against the teenager accused of killing another Santa Monica teenager.

Prosecutors from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office presented evidence to Superior Court Judge James R. Dabney to support their allegations that Matthew Felix Vargas, 18, fatally shot Jalonnie Carter in September, 2003\. Five witnesses testified related to the murder. Meanwhile, one witness told the court she was forced to take the stand and threatened that she’d be arrested if she didn’t testify against Vargas.

In addition to first-degree murder, Vargas also faces six counts of sexual assault for a rape he allegedly committed on Nov. 21, 2004, involving a girl who was younger than 14\. Vargas, who was 17 at the time of the alleged rape, also faces one count of fleeing an officer who attempted to question him about it, according to the DA’s complaint.

Vargas, who has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges, faces life in prison, plus 50 years if he is found guilty, according to prosecutors.

Belinda Ramos, Vargas’ mother, insists her son isn’t responsible for the crimes he’s been accused of.

The preliminary hearing lasted throughout Monday, and is set to finish on Wednesday, according to court officials. Once complete, Judge Dabney will decide if there’s

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 20, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/092005.pdf?ref=smdp.com)