Crime & Safety
Foster Parent, His Son Accused Of Molesting Multiple Foster Kids
Simon Chavez, 64, is being held on $31.5-million bail. His son, Simon Magana Chavez, 31, is held on $1.23-million bail.
ANTIOCH, CA — The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office has charged a former Antioch foster parent with 63 felonies in connection with allegations that he sexually abused foster children in his care. Charges have also been filed against the Antioch man's son in the alleged molestation of foster kids, according to the DA's Office.
The foster father was identified by the DA's Office as Simon Chavez, 64, and his son was identified by authorities as Simon Magana Chavez, 31, a resident of Atwater in Merced County, California.
Antioch police began investigating the father-son duo on June 13. The "extensive sexual abuse
case," police said, "involved several minors that were victimized by a father and son who provided foster care for the children from 2011 through 2017."
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Both men have been charged "for the sexual abuse of multiple children and unlawfully having sex with a minor," according to Scott Alonso, spokesman for the DA's Office.
The elder Chavez was a foster father at his home in Antioch with Contra Costa County’s Children and Family Services and fostered young children for at least 18 years, Alonso said. Simon Chavez, who pleaded not guilty July 16 to 63 felonies, is in custody at the Martinez jail where his bail is set at $31.5 million, according to the DA's Office.
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Simon Magana Chavez was arraigned Friday July 26 in Contra Costa County's Pittsburg Superior Court, and also pleaded not guilty. His bail is set at $1.23 million, Alonso said.
"The younger Chavez is charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors related for crimes against two children, including lewd acts against a child and unlawful sex," Alonso said, noting that as recently as 2018, Simon Magana Chavez was employed as a correctional officer with the state of California.
Both cases are assigned to Deputy District Attorney Diana Weiss with the DA Office’s Sexual Assault Unit, Alonso said.
The DA's Office said members of the public with information about the case should call Antioch police Detective Kelly Inabnett at 925-779-6932.
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