Illegal Immigrant in Mulberry Charged With 115 Felonies Including Lewd Battery of a Mino

Published: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 8:32 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at 8:32 p.m.

MULBERRY - A Mulberry man who was charged with 51 felonies earlier this month is now facing 64 more.

According to an arrest affidavit, Pablo Garcia-Sanchez, 24, drove to North Carolina where he picked up a 15-year-old teen he met on Facebook and brought her back to Mulberry. Nearly three months later, Garcia was arrested by Polk County Sheriff's deputies on Aug 14 and charged with interference of child custody and 50 counts of lewd or lascivious battery. Deputies say that at the time of the arrest the teen was approximately two weeks pregnant with Garcia's child.

While searching Garcia's home, deputies found a cell phone that contained numerous photos and videos of the teen taking part in various sexual acts with Garcia, according to the affidavit.

This new evidence led deputies to charge Garcia with 64 more felonies; 12 counts of allowing a child to engage in sex, 12 counts of promoting sexual performance by a child, 39 counts of possession of photos and videos of sexual performance by a child, and one count traveling to meet a minor.

The teen has been returned to her family. Garcia is being held in the Polk County Jail.

Garcia-Sanchez remains in the Polk County Jail, and is being held for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement due to his status as an illegal immigrant.

SOURCE: THE LEDGER