RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, New Mexico — A decide awarded an 8-year-outdated girl in foster care $485 million in a sexual assault situation in Rio Arriba County. In accordance to court docket paperwork, the child was raped consistently by her previous foster care father or mother, Clarence Garcia. Garcia, 66, pleaded guilty to 7 counts of prison get hold of with a minimal.
“This was a really offended jury. This jury was making an attempt to send out a message. That concept was, if you might be heading to engage in that form of perform, if you are going to make it possible for minimal victims to be hurt like that, you’re going to pay,” KOAT lawful analyst John Working day claimed.
Familyworks, a former nonprofit corporation, placed the minimal in Garcia’s treatment. The firm is forever shut. Familyworks was licensed by the Young children, Youth and Families Office. According to Familyworks, its mission was to take care of and location ‘severely emotionally disturbed’ children and younger older people from ages 4 to 21 in foster treatment.
However, court docket documents reveal Familyworks was aware of sexual assault allegations against Garcia just before positioning the 8-year-previous youngster in his treatment.
“The jury was stating, ‘Look, you realized or must have regarded about this, and you have a accountability if you are heading to be engaged in that sort of business enterprise involving children’s life,'” Working day said. “It’s just unacceptable to have that stage of negligence that prospects to that variety of a tragic situation.”
The 70-site lawsuit alleges the firm’s carelessness brought about the sexual abuse towards the 8-calendar year-outdated female and violated the “Foster Care and Adoption Regulation” Act enacted for the security and perfectly-currently being of the general public.
CYFD Assertion:
“Though Familyworks was certified by CYFD, the division was not shown as a defendant in the lawsuit.
Jessica Preston, a spokesperson for CYFD, sent KOAT a statement in part:
“We are mindful of the disturbing allegations concerning a Familyworks foster dad or mum. We get all allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we will generally function together with law enforcement and all essential agencies to look into any allegation. The Division of Little ones Youth and Households usually takes and will carry on to choose proper motion to maintain persons and organizations, involved with children, accountable and defend the small children in the care of New Mexico’s foster method.”
Garcia was sentenced to 20 several years probation. Nonetheless, he is accused of violating his probation. Garcia’s sentence listening to is on Aug. 3, 2023.
“Judges choose that severely. They you should not like when people who are on probation violate. You have a civil jury which is offended and now he’s going to experience a decide who’s probably very offended as effectively. If, in simple fact, he is observed to have violated probation, my guess is the decide is going to throw the e-book at him, supplied anything which is occurred at this place,” Day stated.
