Phelan Man Convicted of Child Molestation

PHELAN – A 34-year-old Phelan man pleaded guilty to lewd acts with a child and numerous other charges earlier this month. The charges stemmed from a female juvenile reporting that Jose Garcia, who is related to her, molesting her sexually for around two years. Victor Valley station detectives began investigating and were able to collect enough evidence to secure a search warrant for his home.

During the search on September 1, 2016, authorities located handguns and other evidence pertinent to the case. Garcia who was already a convicted felon, was not at home during the search and an arrest warrant was issued. Over three months later, on December 7, 2016, Garcia was located in the parking lot of the Phelan Stater Bros. Deputies attempted to make contact with him, but he evaded. Garcia rammed several vehicles, including a sheriff’s vehicle. He led deputies on a short pursuit to his home, where he was taken into custody without further incident. The vehicle Garcia was driving was determined to be a stolen vehicle.

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On Wednesday, March 1, 2017, as part of a plea agreement, Garcia pleaded guilty to six felony counts, including assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, evading, vehicle theft, felon in possession of a firearm, vandalism, and lewd acts on a child. Garcia will be required to register as a sex offender for life and two of his six counts convicted on will count as strikes. He will appear at the Victorville Superior Court on Monday, March 27, 2017, for sentencing.