The Commercial Appeal
June 27, 2011
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jun/27/bond-set-former-memphis-catholic-diocese-employee/
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| Jose Garcia |
As authorities were closing in on him last year for the rape of a 15-year-old boy, former Memphis Catholic Schools employee Jose Garcia fled to Brazil.
Although authorities knew he was in Brazil, where he also is a citizen, they didn't know exactly where. So Garcia, 31, remained in that country for several months.
For unknown reasons, he returned to the Memphis area, where he was arrested Sunday by the Shelby County sheriff's fugitive squad.
Those additional details came to light Monday as Garcia made his first appearance in court. Charged with three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, he remained jailed Monday night on a $100,000 bond.
"He does have dual citizenship with Brazil. We were not able to locate him with our investigation and found out he was in Brazil," said Lt. Melanie Howe with the Memphis Police Department's sex crimes unit. "Someone must have apparently called the fugitive squad."
This situation began in February 2009, when Garcia was director of technology for the Memphis diocese's Jubilee Schools. He was based at Bishop Byrne High School, where he'd first been hired by the diocese as a technology teacher in 2006.
The victim, who was 15 at the time, exchanged phone numbers with Garcia, who then contacted him on the MySpace social networking site. They began texting and talking on the phone, according to a police affidavit.
Soon, the relationship became sexual, with the pair engaging in several incidents during February 2009. That included both oral and anal sex in Bishop Byrne's "Junior Hall," according to the affidavit.
About a year later, in March 2010, the boy told a Bishop Byrne faculty member that "Garcia had acted in a manner inappropriate for a teacher and adult toward a child," according to a statement from Suzanne Aviles, diocese spokeswoman.
At that point, school officials notified the Department of Children's Services, Howe said. Aviles said the diocese also began an investigation, suspending Garcia as well as barring him from school property. Garcia resigned on April 14, 2010.
During questioning by school administration, Garcia admitted that the victim kissed him on the lips and touched his genitalia while his pants were zipped, according to the affidavit.
Aviles said they conducted a background check on Garcia before he was hired, but found nothing. A check of court records reveals no other charges against Garcia.
"He completed a required child protection training program and was informed of school expectations concerning professional and morally correct behavior," Aviles said in the statement.
Howe said no one else has yet come forward with other complaints about Garcia.
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