Charges Disputed by Vargas’ Camp

Fernando Vargas, the junior-middleweight champion of the International Boxing Federation, may be facing three to four years in prison for crimes he maintains he didn’t commit.

Vargas, 21, of Oxnard, and four companions were booked early Sunday morning by Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies on suspicion of burglary, entering a building with intent to commit a felony, assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Vargas, who has a 17-0 record as a professional fighter, earned $500,000 July 17 when he successfully defended his title against Raul Marquez at Stateline, Nev.

“Reports in the news media linking Fernando Vargas and a burglary in the Summerland area are misleading,” Gregory W. Moreno, Vargas’ attorney, said in a prepared statement. “In fact, Mr. Vargas was the victim of an assault by two individuals and merely took action to defend himself. We are convinced that this charge will quickly be rectified by the authorities. Mr. Vargas is devastated by these reports and will make a personal statement at the appropriate time.”

According to Sgt. Bill Turner of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, Vargas was visiting a woman at her home in Summerland when an unidentified male arrived about 4 a.m. Sunday to visit the woman. Vargas and the other male argued and when they began to fight, Doug Rossi, 23, who was with another female resident of the house in another room, came out and broke up the fight.

Rossi then went back into the other room and Vargas, who had been dropped off at the house, phoned friends. Soon arriving, said Turner, were Ernesto Vargas, 27; Vincent Arenas, 20; Carlos Alberto Lopez, 28, and Freddie Flores, 21.

“They broke the lock and kicked in the door of the room Rossi was in,” Turner said. “They then battered him with unknown striking instruments.

“Whether they came into the house armed, we don’t know. There have been some golf clubs and a homemade billy club found there that have some bloodstains. We don’t know if they were used or not. We don’t know who was swinging the weapons until we talk to all the witnesses.

“Right now, [the attacker or attackers] have been identified as a group. There is a lot left for the investigators to do. [Vargas] may or may not have been involved in the actual attack. That remains to be seen.”

Rossi was taken to a nearby hospital with head injuries, then later was released.

Vargas and his group left, Turner said, and their car later was pulled over by deputies. Vargas and his companions were booked and then released on $10,000 bail. They face arraignment Aug. 23 in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

Vargas has blossomed into one of the biggest names in boxing. He has won all of his fights by knockout and has potential multimillion-dollar fights ahead with David Reid and Oscar De La Hoya. He also has begun to carve his niche in the rich endorsement field long dominated by De La Hoya. All of this, of course, is jeopardized by the charges he faces.

“As his promoter, I have complete faith that Fernando will be vindicated,” said Kathy Duva of Main Events. “This will pass. It looks like people may be taking advantage of his celebrity.

“At this time, it is too soon to say how much his lifestyle may have contributed to this. We will learn that in time. But he has to learn which people to avoid. At 21, Fernando has a lot to learn.”