Man sentenced to 30 years for aggravated sexual assault of a child
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Oct 19, 2016, Comments Off
Courtesy Yanira Deleon,
(Laredo, Texas)-The Office of the District Attorney reports a guilty verdict for Fernando Cano-Garcia, 32, who was charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 14 years of age for molesting his 11-year old niece.
The case came to light on October 16, 2014 when the victim, Catalina, out cried to her counselor at her school stating that her uncle had sexually molested her four months prior. The counselor referred Catalina and her mother to the Children’s Advocacy Center for further counseling. A police report was subsequently filed as part of the center’s procedures. Catalina told her counselor and the doctors who examined her that on June 20, 2014, her uncle inappropriately touched her at his place of employment.
Cano-Garcia faced a one count charge of Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child under 14 years of age, a first-degree felony in the State of Texas. Sexual Assault of a Child is considered aggravated when the victim is under the age of 14, and carries a punishment range of incarceration of five to 99 years or life.
The trial, which took place before the 111th District Court Judge Monica Notzon was heard by a jury over the course of two days who rendered their guilty verdict after close to two hours of deliberation. The jury heard testimony from Laredo Police Department investigators, expert witnesses, the victim’s mother and the victim.
After finding Cano-Garcia guilty, the jury assessed the punishment of 30 years to serve in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Correctional Institution Division.
Assistant District Attorney’s Estrella Ramirez and Ana De La Rosa prosecuted the case for the State.
