A Southern California man was sentenced to prison for sexual assault crimes that involved multiple underage victims.
The man involved was identified as Edmundo Garcia, 34, of Ontario, according to the Pomona Police Department.
On April 23, 2024, police responded to reports of a missing juvenile. Detectives later discovered the juvenile had been taken against her will by Garcia.
The kidnapped juvenile was later located and rescued from the suspect. Investigators learned Garcia had been “grooming children in the area and sexually assaulting them using force and fear.”
Details on how the victims were first contacted by Garcia or the number of victims possibly involved were not released.
Garcia was arrested and charged with:
- Oral copulation of a minor over 14
- Unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 16 (2 counts)
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury (2 counts)
- Lewd act upon a child under 14
- Sexual penetration of a person under 16
- Lewd act upon a child age 14 or 15 (2 counts)
- Battery with serious bodily injury
- Sexual penetration by use of force of minor victim over 14
- Dissuading a witness from reporting a crime
- Criminal threats
On Dec. 9, Garcia pleaded no contest to three counts and was sentenced to 22 years in state prison.
Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life, authorities said.
