Tehachapi activist accused of sex with boys
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TEHACHAPI, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Kern County deputies have arrested a Tehachapi activist accused of sex with two boys under 16 years of age.
Steven Vogel, 26, was arrested Tuesday and booked into Kern County jail on suspicion of oral copulation with a minor, lewd and lascivious acts with a child and other offenses.
"He made contact with these juveniles on a social network site," said Kern County Sgt. Douglas Wilson. "He met them, and that's when the sexual activity took place, each individually."
Vogel serves as the first president of the Tehachapi Anti-Bullying Coalition, according to the group's website. His online bio also states he's involved in the Arts, Science & Technology Committee of Tehachapi and Have a Heart Humane Society.
Eyewitness News contacted the Tehachapi Anti-Bullying Coalition on Wednesday, and Vice President Evalene S. Campbell-Best said Vogel is no longer with the group. She declined to comment further on the matter.
A spokesman for the Arts, Science & Technology Committee of Tehachapi also said Vogel is not associated with his group.
"It is imperative that we as a community develop partnerships in an attempt to prevent the ostracization of our young people from their peers," Vogel wrote in his Tehachapi Anti-Bullying Coalition website bio. "I have learned that each person, young and old alike, has a story to tell and that we cannot judge a person simply because of our initial perceptions!"
Vogel also ran as a candidate for the Tehachapi Unified School District Board of Trustees in November. He was not elected.
The sheriff's office didn't say when the alleged sex acts took place.
Kern County Superior Court records show Vogel pleaded no contest in 2010 to a charge of furnishing a minor with tobacco and smoking paraphernalia. In 2007, Vogel was charged with grand theft property, but that was later dismissed.
The case is similar to that of another Tehachapi man, Shane Reed.
Reed, a Tehachapi City Council member and Kern County firefighter, was convicted twice of having sex with underage boys. He also met them online on social network sites.
Bail for Vogel was set at $200,000.
Just a younger version of Jerry Sandusky! Stiffer laws are the ONLY way! NO cure for Pedophilia,,,,,,EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will believe law enforcement is doing something about child molesters when they arrest Jon Hammond.
Mr. Vogel's bio states that he's involved in the Arts, Science & Technology Committee of Tehachapi. Â To set the record straight, Â his only involvement with the Arts, Science & Technology Educational Corporation of Tehachapi (AST) was one time in the 2009-2010 time frame when he signed up to help with a tree planting project, but was a no-show. Â In effect, he has had no involvement in our organization.
Joel Beckmann, Chairman of the Board, AST
I can't believe Smith and Grimes have not appointed Vogel to the City council.
Anyone notice the irony of this statement:Â "I have learned that each person, young and old alike, has a story to tell and that we cannot judge a person simply because of our initial perceptions!"
Unless one had heightened spidey senses, this guy always came across as so nice...so pleasant...so concerned.  Most people were taken in by their initial perceptions of him.  I guess he was right!  These pedophiles are so good at conning people.
BUT, where the heck are the parents of these boys? Â Same in the Reed case. Â These kids are sexually active and are actively looking, it doesn't take much for these predators to find their prey when these kids are curious and so easily swayed by the "grooming" these perverts are patient enough to do. Â Note the buying of smoking materials for a juvenile. Â He was grooming that kid by giving him what he wanted.
The majority of these perverts were molested when they were young.  There seems to be an astronomical increase of them in our society.  These sickos do NOT get better or rehabilitate no matter the punishment.  We need stiffer sentences to keep them in jail for life where they can't get to our kids.  That is the only way we are going to get this pervert population under control.Â
Way to stop the bullying steve. Perhaps you can stop molesting underage boys now. appreciate it.