California hairstylist convicted for heinous sex assault on client in barber chair

A perverted hairstylist was found guilty of sexually assaulting one of his male clients as the victim sat in a barber chair during a haircut.Rafael Martinez Vargas, 45, of Salinas, was convicted by a jury on Monday of sexual battery and forcible oral copulation, the Monterey County District Attorney’s office said.The jury also found that the heinous crime “involved planning, sophistication, or professionalism.”The unidentified male victim, aka John Doe 1, said he had been a regular client of Vargas’ at Haircuts in Shape in Salinas.During a haircut on March 3, 2024, the victim said Vargas began “touching his genitals without his consent” and then pulled down the victim’s pants before assaulting him.He said when he tried to push Vargas off, he initially couldn’t get him to stop the assault, according the DA.

The victim said he was eventually able to make it end.“During his testimony, John Doe 1 addressed what may appear to be a counterintuitive response to the assault, specifically, why he did not strike Vargas or use physical force to stop the attack,” Pacioni said.“Doe 1 explained that he froze during the incident, a common response to trauma and fear.”Two other people testified during the trial they were also allegedly victims of a sexual assault by Vargas.“John Doe 2 testified that in 2017, while receiving a haircut at Vargas’ barbershop, Vargas reached into Doe 2’s pants without his consent to touch his groin,” the DA said.The second victim similarly described freezing during the assault and being unable to fight Vargas off.A third person, John Doe 3, also recounted being assaulted by Vargas at the barber shop in November 2019. John Doe 3 testified that Vargas groped his “genitals over the clothes numerous times” without his consent.Again, Vargas’ third victim explained that he didn’t physically resist because he “froze in response to the shock and trauma of the assault,” according to the DA.Vargas is due back in cou...