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Last updated on Monday, April 18, 2016
(BLOOMFIELD) - A Spencer man was sentenced to 40 years in prison after he molested a child who was in his care.
Genaro Gene Garcia, who was 45 at the time of his arrest last August, was convicted of Level 1 felony child molesting in a nearly week-long jury trial in February. He appeared in Greene Superior Court Thursday for the sentencing hearing.
According to court records, the Greene County Sheriff's Department was alerted to the incident in June 2015. A child under the age of 12 was dropped off at a home where Garcia was in charge of his care while the mother ran an errand.
Garcia and the child took a dog for a walk, and the child told investigators it was during this time Garcia initiated the sexual assault.
The young child was seen by neighbors, who testified against Garcia, and reported she appeared visibly shaken. The child ran back to the house in tears, and along the way located a neighbor and asked for a ride.
DNA on the child's clothing matched that of Garcia's.
The jury deliberated for about 5 hours and found Garcia guilty of the crime.
Superior Court Judge Dena Martin sentenced Garcia to 40 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections, with 211 days of credit for time served.
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