Guatemalan Man Sentenced 17-Years In Prison For Sexually Abusing A Cocoa Child, Impregnating Her
By Space Coast Daily // March 6, 2019
Henry Jose Garcia will be deported after his 17-year prison sentence
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – A 42-year-old Guatemalan National was sentenced to 17-years in prison for sexual battery of a child in 2017 that resulted in the girl to become pregnant.
Circuit Court Judge Kelly Jo McKibben sentenced Henry Jose Garcia to 17-years in prison after a plea agreement had been reached on Monday.
Garcia, who is a Guatemalan National, had been in the United States for more than 10-years on a work visa when he committed his crimes.
In March 2017, Cocoa Police Detectives arrested Garcia for sexually abusing a child since the child was 11-years-old. The victim, who is now an adult, visited the police department to report the abuse.
“The victim told detectives Garcia lured her into having sex by threatening to hurt family members if she did not comply,” said Yvonne Martinez of the Cocoa Police Department.
“He also promised to buy her gifts and pay for things she needed in exchange for sex. The abusive sexual relationship continued until the girl became pregnant at age 15.”
Police say after Garcia’s 17-year prison sentence is completed, he will be deported.
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“What he did to this young girl is absolutely unacceptable and the worse kind of abuse you can imagine,” said Detective Debra Titkanich who investigated the case.
“While we are satisfied with the fact that Mr. Garcia is going to prison for a while, it is something the victim will carry with her for the rest of her life.”
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