Salinas barber Rafael Martinez Vargas convicted of multiple sexual assaults in chair

Rafael Martinez Vargas, a 45-year-old hairstylist from Salinas, was found guilty by a Monterey County jury of sexual battery and forcible oral copulation. The court heard testimony from three unidentified male clients who said Vargas touched their genitals without consent while they were in his barbershop, Haircuts in Shape. The first victim recounted the assault on March 3, 2024, noting he was unable to stop Vargas until the attack ended.

Two additional victims described similar assaults in 2017 and 2019, each saying they froze and could not fight back. The jury also concluded the offenses were carried out with planning, sophistication, or professionalism. Vargas is scheduled for sentencing in August, where he could receive up to 8.5 years in state prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.