Vargas Could Face Jail After No-Contest Plea

Fernando Vargas, former International Boxing Federation junior middleweight champion, could be facing imprisonment after pleading no-contest Monday to a charge of conspiracy in Santa Barbara Superior Court in an assault case that occurred nearly two years ago.

Hilary Dozer, a senior deputy in the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s office, said he will ask for a jail term for the Oxnard fighter when a sentencing hearing is held before Judge Thomas Adams on Aug. 24.

“I am not saying my feet are cast in concrete,” Dozer said. “We will take into account the injuries sustained and the record, or in this case the lack thereof, of the defendant. He’s a hard-working guy. Just because he’s a prizefighter doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a job. I understand he has worked with youth in his area. That may affect the judge’s opinion or mine. We will look at the complete person.”

The charges stem from an incident in July 1999 involving Vargas and four others in the beating of 23-year-old Doug Rossi at the home of a woman Vargas was seeing. Rossi suffered a broken finger and cuts to the head when attacked with sticks and golf clubs.

The four other defendants--Ernesto Vargas, Fernando’s cousin; Freddie Flores, Carlos Lopez and Vincent Arenas--have pleaded no-contest to assault.

The beating occurred after Fernando Vargas had called the four others to the house. There is no evidence Vargas took part in the actual beating.

“His call could legally constitute a conspiracy,” said Sam Eaton, Vargas’ attorney.

Adams will rule on a request to reduce the charge against Vargas, who has no previous assault record, from a felony to a misdemeanor. Instead of a jail term, the judge could limit Vargas to probation, which is automatic, or add a requirement of community service. There are no standard guidelines in such a matter.

“I feel very happy to get this behind me,” Vargas said after Monday’s court session. “This has made me grow as a person. I look forward to fighting in the ring, not in court, which is not a good place for me.”

Vargas, 23, defeated Wilfredo Rivera on a sixth-round TKO on Saturday in El Paso in a nontitle bout, and hopes to fight again in a few months. Dozer said that even if Vargas were to be given jail time, the court would be willing to work around his fight schedule.