Tulare Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Molestation

Yesterday in Department 3 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Nathan Leedy sentenced Jose Luis Garcia, age 36, of Tulare, to 35 years- to-life in prison for child molestation. Garcia will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

On July 19, 2018, Garcia pleaded no contest to eight counts of lewd act upon a child under the age of fourteen, one counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of possession of stolen property. Garcia also admitted the special allegations of substantial sexual conduct and that the crimes involved multiple victims. Each count is a felony and eight counts are considered strike offenses.

The crimes occurred between July 23, 1995, and December 17, 2011, against six male victims. The victims were between the ages of five and ten-years-old at the time of the sexual assaults.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Wayt of the Crimes against Children Division and investigated by Detective Sara Olmos of the TulareCounty Sheriff’s Office and Detective Matt Muller of the Tulare PoliceDepartment.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494