Ex-Las Cruces Police detective sentenced in 2nd sexual contact case
Former Las Cruces Police detective Michael Garcia on Monday was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
He was sentenced Monday for three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the second degree and two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the second degree (person in position of authority).
Ten years of the sentence have been suspended.
Garcia was initially arrested on Aug. 23, 2013 for sexually assaulting a minor. He was arrested a second time on Sept. 4, 2013 with 10 additional charges related to sexually assaulting another young girl.
On Monday, the victim, who is a family member, read a statement to the court that addressed Garcia several times and cited the occasions he abused her.
“Throughout the ordeal the victim has been the bravest, most articulate young lady I have ever met, her courage was infectious to us all. This sentence has been a long time coming and we are very happy with it,” Third Judicial District Attorney Mark D’Antonio said in a statement.
Garcia has already received a nine year federal sentence for admitting to raping a teenage girl who was an Excel intern with the department in the summer of 2013.
The two sentences will run concurrent to each other, meaning Garcia will serve the nine year federal sentence in Massachusetts then be transferred back to New Mexico to serve the remaining 11 year sentence from District Court.
