Former Wal-Mart Employee Charged with Sexual Assault

RIO GRANDE — As previously reported here, a former Wal-Mart Loss Prevention Officer has been arrested and charged with sex crimes after several women came forward to report the incidents.
According to Middle Township Police and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office, Jose, Vargas, 35, of the Villas, was arrested Tue., Nov. 8.
An investigation into the incidents revealed that Vargas committed these acts while working as a Loss Prevention Officer and interacting with female customers. The first incident occurred in April 2011 while Vargas was employed as a Loss Prevention Officer at the Rio Grande ShopRite. The other incidents occurred in November 2011 while Vargas was employed at Wal-Mart in Rio Grande.
All three incidents involved separate victims.
“Just like any member of the community who hears about these allegations we are appalled at the thought of something happening like this,” said Dianna Gee, a spokesperson for Wal-Mart.
Gee told the Herald that Vargas was hired by Wal-Mart on Oct. 19. “He no longer works for us.”
Background checks are performed on each employee the Arkansas-based retailer hires, said Gee. “We set high standards for our associates, and this type of behavior fails to meet out expectations at every level.”
“We are working closely with police to provide any information we have that might be helpful as they see out the facts about the case,” she added.
Vargas has been charged with Sexual Assault, Sexual Contact and Impersonating a Police Officer. He is being housed in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.
The Middle Township Police Department and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office are actively investigating this case. Anyone who has additional information may contact the Middle Township Police Department at 609-465-8700, the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-465-1135, or Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800.