Police: Murder weapon in Carter case recovered
A Santa Monica teenager accused of killing Jolannie Carter also will face charges of rape when he is tried as an adult, authorities said.
The District Attorney’s Office filed an amended complaint on Monday against Matthew Felix Vargas, 18, charged with shooting Carter in September of 2003. In addition to being tried for Carter’s first-degree murder, Vargas will face six counts of sexual assault for a rape he allegedly committed on Nov. 21, 2004, with a girl who was younger than 14.
Vargas, who was 17 at the time of the alleged rape, also will face one count of obstructing an officer’s investigation after the alleged sexual assault took place, according to the DA’s complaint.
Vargas, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, faces life in prison plus 50 years if he is found guilty, according to the complaint. He’s expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, when attorneys on both sides will lay out their evidence and a judge will determine if the case will go to trial.
Vargas was being detained at a juvenile detention facility in Sylmar on April 7, where he was awaiting trial for the rape charges, when Santa police detectives arrested him for Carter’s murder.
Carter, 19, was shot in the back with a.22-caliber gun in the 1800 block of 20th Street while he was walking through an alley on Sept. 2, 2003. The bullet pierced his heart, and he died a few hours later at a local hospital. It was the only homicide in Santa Monica that year.
Shortly after, police arrested a neighbor in connection with the murder, but the DA’s office dropped the charges due to a lack of evidence.
Carter is described by family and friends as a hard-working young man who was studying for a career in computers while working two jobs.
According to the DA’s office, Vargas is being tried as an adult on both the rape and murder charges because of the evidence prosecutors have to support their case.
Teresa de Castro, one of two deputy district attorneys prosecuting the case, said Vargas’ alleged rape failed to go to trial sooner because of requests by Vargas’ attorney to postpone proceedings. As a result, Vargas will be tried for both the rape and murder simultaneously.
Vargas’ mother, Belinda Ramos, insists her son isn’t responsible for the crimes of which he’s been accused.
“He’s innocent until proven guilty,” Ramos said. “He’s not Santa Monica property. He’s innocent, that’s all there is to it.”
Ramos said information supporting her son’s innocence hasn’t yet been brought into the public realm. She declined to say what that information is.
Sheldon L. Levitin, Vargas’ attorney, didn’t comment.
Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts Jr. previously told the Daily Press that detectives have recovered the murder weapon, but declined to provide further information on what other evidence will be brought against Vargas.
Vargas, who lives in the Pico neighborhood, has been described by family and friends as respectful and mild-mannered.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 14, 2005. Read the original PDF.