Aaron Vargas Pleads No Contest in Death of Darrell McNeill

Aaron Vargas Pleads No Contest to Voluntary Manslaughter Death of Darrell McNeill

Aaron Vargas, 32, said that Darrell McNeill started molesting him when he was 11-years-old and that he emotionally tormented him as an adult, so on the night of February 8, 2009 he drove to McNeill's house and shot him in front of his wife.

Vargas has now pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter with the use of a gun and now waits to see what sentence he will receive for the crime; it could be anywhere from 10 years down to probation. He was to stand trial for first-degree murder next week. Vargas' sentence decision will begin on April 20.

Members of Community Support Vargas: Say McNeill Abused Them

Darrell McNeill was a family friend of the Vargas family and was former Boy Scout leader and local businessman in Fort Bragg. However, other men in the community support Vargas' actions and say that McNeill used his position as Boy Scout leader to take the boys on hikes and camping trips, give them alcohol and drugs, and molest them.

Vargas' family has been diligent about raising awareness of child sexual abuse since Aaron Vargas' arrest.

Mendocino County Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Norman said that four people have lodged reports against McNeill for sexual abuse and that was enough to strike a plea deal for Vargas.

McNeill's wife said that although she could not condone what Arron Vargas did, she did understand it and thinks he should serve some time for his crime, but not much. She said she had no reason to doubt Aaron's claim of abuse.

Todd Rowan's Case

Another man, Todd Rowan, also claims McNeill molested him when he was 15 and continued until he was 19. He said McNeill would give him pot and beer and take advantage of the fact that he was a loner kid with few friends. He said that what McNeill did to him drove him to drugs and repeated suicide attempts.