ST. GEORGE, Utah — A man accused of child sex abuse turned himself in to the Washington County Jail on Friday.
Roberto Garcia, 46, faces three first-degree felony charges in connection with an investigation that began in April 2019, when a woman reported to the Ogden Police Department that Garcia sexually abused her step-daughter.
According to an affidavit, the girl, who was 15 when police interviewed her, told investigators Garcia abused her on multiple occasions when she was seven.
The victim also told police that Garcia would often "buy her a pool pass for the North Ogden public pool, and would get her McDonald's happy meals" after the alleged abuse took place, the affidavit says.
Detectives made numerous attempts to contact Garcia about the claims of abuse, including an arrangement made with Garcia's attorney to respond to their questions in writing.
"[B]ut after several follow up conversations with the attorney, no responses have been received," the affidavit says.
The girl's family told detectives they were concerned that Garcia could be deported prior to facing charges due to his immigration status. This detail prompted the Weber County Second Judicial District Court to issue a warrant for Garcia's arrest.
On Friday morning, Garcia walked into Washington County's Purgatory Correctional Facility and told jail staff about the warrant, and was subsequently booked on the charges. While he claimed to be living in Las Vegas, official documents still list his address as being in North Ogden.
“Now that we have him here in the jail, Ogden Police will likely come down and get him," Lt. David Crouse, Washington County Sheriff's Office, told St. George News.
Garcia faces one count of rape of a child, one count of sodomy upon a child and one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies.
Garcia remains in custody with bail set at $60,000 and a federal immigration hold.
