Bucheit stood just a few feet away from Vargo, of Middletown Eaton Road, and read from a prepared statement. A few times, his voice cracked.
Without the testimony from Vargo’s relatives, Bucheit said, this “abhorrent, incestuous, disgusting nightmare would still be happening.”
Speaking to Vargo, who never turned toward the detective, Bucheit told Vargo he had sentenced his family members to “life without parole” and he certainly “deserves the same.”
Vargo pleaded guilty to 24 counts, 22 counts of rape and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Oney is scheduled to sentence Vargo July 11. He could face up to 200 years in prison, she told him.
As Oney read each of the counts, two of Vargo’s family members sat in the back of the courtroom and buried their heads in their hands.
Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer McElfresh requested Oney to order Vargo to speak aloud his plea to the charges.
“Guilty, your honor,” he said.
Throughout the hearing, one of Vargo’s victims — a young boy — sat in the courtroom, flanked by four Butler County detectives. Vargo never looked at the boy, who was escorted out of the courthouse by detectives.
Defense attorney Christopher Cornyn declined to comment following the hearing.
Vargo’s father, David Vargo, 69, was convicted in 2002 of repeatedly raping a juvenile female family member. David Vargo is serving a nine-year sentence, according to court records.
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