Federal judge sentences former LCPD detective to 9 years for rape

A federal judge handed down a sentence of nine years in prison to a former Las Cruces police detective who raped a 17-year-old intern in 2011.

Michael Garcia was a 14-year veteran with the Las Cruces Police Department when he was arrested. When he changed his plea to guilty Wednesday, he got a plea deal from the judge. That allowed the case not to go to trial and the victim to not have to recount the details of the day she says changed her life.

“The victim would’ve had to be re-traumatized and that’s not good for anybody trying to put closure on this whole thing,” defense attorney Mario Esparza said. He believes the sentence is a fair resolution.

“He abused the trust that we all have in this community with our police and used it for his own purposes, sexual gratification, in this particular case,” Esparza said.

During the change of plea sentencing, the young woman took the stand and read a written statement to the judge.

“I’m so disgusted. I lost my faith in everyone. I gave up on school. I could not figure out what to do with the rest of my life. I realized it was your shame and not mine. I did what I had to, to put you away. It was the hardest thing to do in my life.”

Garcia apologized to the victim during his sentencing and said he accepts responsibility and is remorseful. He will likely serve his prison term in Massachusetts, where there is a recommended sex offender treatment program.

Esparza agrees his client needs help.

“He had been the victim of sexual abuse while he was a minor child by his stepfather,” Esparza said. “When this incident came to light, it allowed him to open up and share that secret and to seek treatment.”

The victim has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. She told the judge she learned Garcia is HIV positive and before the assault happened, she wanted a career in law enforcement. Garcia has already entered a plea in a pending state case against him, which may result in additional prison time.