Affidavit: EPPD detective fondled teenager while watching television
An El Paso Police Detective fondled a teenager while watching television in a bedroom, a complaint affidavit obtained by ABC-7 states.
Detectives with the police department’s Crimes Against Children Unit arrested 46-year-old Juan Carlos Gardea, a 19-year veteran of the police department, and charged him with Sexual Assault of a Child.
Police said the victim reported she had been sexually assaulted by Gardea, a relative, February 4, 2017.
According to the affidavit, Gardea was laying down in bed in between the girl and a younger child. While watching television, Gardea allegedly started groping the victim’s buttocks and breasts, the affidavit states.
The girl told detectives Gardea proceeded to fondle her.
The affidavit does not reveal the age of the younger child or what that child was doing in the bedroom during the alleged sexual assault.
Gardea was arrested Monday night and booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility under a $ 100,000 bond.
El Paso Police officials told ABC-7 Tuesday Gardea’s mug shot will not be released at this time because it could compromise on-going investigations. Detective Gardea has been placed on administrative leave.
