In celebration of Smile Generation Serve Day, Moorpark Dental Group partnered with the nonprofit After Innocence to provide free dental care for a man who spent more than 16 years in prison for crimes he did not commit.“Now that I got this brand-new smile to sport, I’m able to smile more often and let them know that you guys have really done a lot,” Luis Vargas, who was exonerated after the California Innocence Project reviewed his case, said. “Not only have they given me back my freedom, but (the dental work) has also given me more positivity, more positive outlook toward life.” In 1999, Vargas was sentenced to 55 years to life in prison for the armed attacks on two women and rape of another. The trial had relied heavily on inaccurate eyewitness testimony and Vargas, who had a tear drop-shaped tattoo under his eye, resembled a serial predator known as “The Teardrop Rapist” who was terrorizing Los Angeles at the time. Vargas maintained his innocence for more than 16 years, filing appeals until he caught the attention of the California Innocence Project, which prompted a review.
While he was imprisoned, the Teardrop Rapist committed more violent attacks. Vargas was exonerated in 2015 after DNA evidence proved he was not the attacker. He was awarded $886,760 in state compensation.
“You know, there’s no room for resentment. Life is too short,” Vargas said. “One thing I know for sure is that they haven’t caught the individual whose crimes I paid for, but the minute that he’s facing trial, going to court. … And I’m going to let him know: ‘Hey, you owe me 18 years.’” Now a chef at King Falafel in Santa Maria, Vargas has been rebuilding his life since his release. Part of the process included fixing his teeth, some of which were knocked out during a riot while he was incarcerated. The After Innocence project partnered with dental groups belonging to Smile Generation, a referral services, to provide free service to Vargas over the last several months.“I was obviously happy to help try to get him back on his feet. And when he came in, it was a pretty quick fix, at least to get something in there and get him some teeth so he can smile again,” Jedediah Huss, owner of Moorpark Dental Group, said. “When he came in and smiled, he just had two canines there. We got him cleaned up, we got some bad teeth out of there, did some infection control so he can smile. And it’s rewarding, especially because Luis is so appreciative.”
Dentist Puts Smile On Innocent Man
