Jury Acquits Man of Gun Threat Charges

A Kern County jury found Charles Edward Vanworth not guilty of felony criminal threats tied to a dispute over a used Dodge Journey.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Crime — General

A Kern County jury acquitted Charles Edward Vanworth on November 6 of two counts of felony criminal threats, along with lesser included attempted-threat counts and a misdemeanor count of exhibiting a deadly weapon. The charges stemmed from a February 2, 2025 incident in Oildale involving a 2013 Dodge Journey.

Why it matters

The verdict clears Vanworth of charges that carried nearly 20 years in prison if convicted as charged. It also shows how a dispute over an unpaid vehicle balance can escalate into a criminal case that a jury ultimately rejects.

The jury returned not guilty verdicts on two felony criminal threats counts, the lesser included attempted-threat counts on both, and a misdemeanor deadly weapon count, leaving Vanworth with no conviction from the February 2, 2025 incident. Whether the prosecution will pursue any further action after the verdict is not stated in the source.

The players

Charles Edward Vanworth

Vanworth is the Bakersfield-area defendant who was acquitted of felony criminal threats charges after a Kern County jury trial.

The details

The alleged victims said Vanworth got out of a 2013 Dodge Journey near El Tejon Avenue and Oildale Drive and threatened them with a handgun after they followed and blocked the vehicle. The dispute centered on a sale in which one alleged victim said he sold the Dodge for $2,000 but received only $1,000, while the defense argued Vanworth was not present and the wrong person had been arrested.

February 2, 2025: Alleged gun threat occurs during the Dodge Journey dispute in Oildale.
November 6: Kern County jury returns not guilty verdicts on all counts.

Legal Context

California Penal Code Section 422 makes criminal threats a felony when a threat is made with intent and causes reasonable sustained fear, and this acquittal shows juries can reject such charges when identification and presence are contested. The verdict reflects how weapon-based threat cases often turn on witness credibility in disputes between private parties.

Residents who sell used vehicles privately should document payment terms and balances in writing, since unpaid balances can lead to confrontations. The case shows that disputes over vehicle sales can escalate to police involvement in Bakersfield-area neighborhoods like Oildale.

The takeaway

Private vehicle sales can leave one party holding an unpaid balance, and clear written terms and receipts can reduce the chance a dispute turns into a criminal case. Jury acquittals also remind readers that criminal charges are decided on evidence presented at trial.