DALLAS — Dennis Garcia, 45, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including drug possession, theft, and introduction of a prohibited substance into a correctional facility. As part of sentencing, the court also heard evidence linking Garcia to a 2016 sexual assault case.
Garcia entered open pleas on four pending felony charges:
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Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 <1G
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Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1/1-B <1G
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Theft of Property >$2,500 < $30,000
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Prohibited Substance/Item in a Correctional Facility
During sentencing proceedings, prosecutors presented details of a 2016 sexual assault. According to court testimony, the victim was assaulted by Garcia and another man after meeting them through a friend. Although the victim underwent a sexual assault exam shortly after the incident, her kit went untested for years.
Eventually, the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) Cold Case Team tested the kit. DA Investigator Jon Wakefield used the results to identify Garcia and move the case forward.
Garcia received a 25-year sentence on the third-degree felony and 8 years on the state jail felony charges. The case was prosecuted by Haley Pratt and Klarissa Diaz. DA Investigators Jon Wakefield, Lee Thompson, and Angie Barnes assisted with the case, and victim advocates Mackenzie Kile and ShaLisa Carrier supported the survivor.
