Santa Ana, CA — On Friday, Superior Court Judge Robert R. Fitzgerald decided to allow the trial of Isidro Garcia, 41, on charges of kidnapping and raping an underage girl whom he later married and lived with for several years.
The victim was 15 years old in 2004, at which time her mother was dating Garcia. They had just moved to Santa Ana from Mexico, and she accuses Garcia of fondling her and having sex with her against her will at the time when he was still dating her mother. After the victim had a fight with her mother, she says that Garcia gave her pills that caused her to lose consciousness and when she woke up she was locked in a garage in Compton.
According to police, Garcia told the victim that she would be deported if she tried to report what had happened. The victim and Garcia lived in several cities in Orange County and were married in 2007. They had a child together in 2012.
The rape and kidnapping case against Garcia began when a woman in Bell Gardens went to file a domestic violence report and police were able to connect her to a 2004 missing persons case.
Prosecutors have characterized the woman as being in a state of mental captivity, but an attorney for Garcia claims that she has made up the kidnapping and rape allegations. Neighbors and friends were surprised to hear about the trial, having believed the couple to be happy.
No matter how awful the allegations against someone are, everyone has the right to legal representation when their case goes to trial. An experienced attorney can help you build a successful defense in Orange County’s state and federal courts and make sure that your interests and rights are protected.
At the Law Office of Michael L. Guisti, we’ve defended clients from all over Orange County for more than 16 years. In that time, we’ve built up a strong record for having criminal charges reduced or dismissed. We aren’t afraid to take on difficult or high-profile cases and we never give up on our clients.
It can be frightening when you’ve been charged with a crime, but remember, the burden of proof lies on the prosecutor. Our firm has the resources to demonstrate the gaps that leave room for doubt in the prosecution’s case, and we’re ready to put those resources to work for you. Call an OC criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Michael L. Guisti at (714) 707-2797 for a free consultation.
Sources:
Emery, Sean. “Judge says Santa Ana ‘mental captive’ rape, kidnap case can go to trial.” http://www.ocregister.com/articles/garcia-659379-woman-diaz.html. Orange County Register. 24 April 2015.
Taxin, Amy. “Man ordered to trial on charges of kidnapping, raping teen.” http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/04/24/51255/man-ordered-to-trial-on-charges-of-kidnapping-rapi/. 89.3 KPCC. 24 April 2015.