Man On Work Visa Arrested For Capital Sexual Battery On A Child After Abusing, Impregnating Her For 7 Years

By  //  March 7, 2017

40-year-old Henry Jose Garcia Arrested

Authorities have arrested 40-year-old Henry Jose Garcia in Cocoa Beach for capital sexual battery on a child under the age of 12.

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA BEACH, FLORIDA – Authorities have arrested 40-year-old Henry Jose Garcia in Cocoa Beach on Tuesday for capital sexual battery on a child under the age of 12.

According to Yvonne Martinez of the Cocoa Police Department, Garcia was on a work visa and had been in the states for more than 10 years when he was arrested Tuesday.

Investigators say Garcia was sexually abusing the child for seven years since the child was 11-years-old.

The victim, now 18-years-old, visited the Cocoa Police Department last week to report the abuse, said Martinez.

The victim told detectives Garcia lured her into having sex by threatening to hurt family members if she did not comply and 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, say investigators.

“She didn’t come forward until now because she was afraid,” said Cocoa Police Detective Debra Titkanich.

“What he did to her is absolutely unacceptable and the worse kind of abuse you can imagine. It is something she will carry with her for the rest of her life.”

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Officials state that Garcia will now be facing life in prison and possible deportation, if convicted.

Garcia will be held on $70,000 bond pending an initial appearance in front of a judge on Wednesday, said Martinez.

The maximum penalty for a capital crime is death or life in prison.

Immigration authorities have been contacted and his status is pending, according to Cocoa Police.

The local investigation is ongoing as additional charges are possible.

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