LOGAN — A 38-year-old Logan man has admitted to sexually abusing a 10-year-old girl. Carlos A. Garcia has accepted a plea deal that could send him to prison for life, and keeps the victim from having to testify in a trial.
Garcia appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday morning. He pleaded guilty to an amended charge of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. As part of the agreement, prosecutors dropped three remaining charges against him.
State attorney Jacob Gordon said Garcia engaged in multiple sex acts with the girl last June. The victim knew the defendant, who was considered to be a person of trust to her.
Public defender Shannon Demler said the charge carries a prison sentence of six, ten, or fifteen-years-to-life in prison. He explained that prosecutors agreed not to ask for the maximum sentence as part of the plea deal.
Garcia spoke only briefly during the hearing, telling the court he understood the terms of the agreement. He said he was willing to waive his rights to a trial and knew the possible punishment for the felony charge.
Judge Brian Cannell ordered Garcia to undergo a pre-sentence report about his criminal history. He scheduled sentencing for January 22.