State records reveal more allegations against Scottsdale care facility sex assault suspect | Crime Files
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - A medication technician at a Scottsdale assisted living facility has been arrested and is accused of sexual assault, and as it turns out, it's not the first time he is suspected of doing such a thing.
Here's what to know.
Who's the suspect?
Gabriel Garcia, Jr.
The suspect has been identified as 43-year-old Gabriel Garcia, Jr.
Garcia, per our previous report, was hired at the facility as a medication technician at a senior living facility called Scottsdale Village Square. He was hired in December 2024.
What allegedly happened?
According to relevant court documents, the incident began to unfold on Jan. 28, when police received reports of a sexual crime at Scottsdale Village Square.
Timeline:
Per court documents, the director of the facility told police that she received a call from the alleged victim's adult son, who said he saw his mother engaged in a sexual act with an employee. The son reportedly saw the act via a live camera that was placed within the alleged victim's room.
Court documents contained graphic description of the alleged act.
Per investigators, Garcia was originally set to return to work on Jan. 29, but was told by facility officials that he was suspended, pending an ongoing investigation.
Records show the victim was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's. When questioned, she told police she was unaware of what had happened.
Garcia, per court documents, was arrested on Jan. 31.
What did the suspect tell investigators?
Per investigators, Garcia admitted to his actions once he saw the photos. He allegedly told police it's been difficult at home raising an autistic son and explained how that's interfering with his marriage.
Is the suspect involved in other, similar incidents?
Docs reveal more on care facility assault suspect
We are digging into records linked to a man who is accused of sexually assaulting an elderly woman at a senior living facility in Scottsdale. As it turns out, those were not the only accusations Gabriel Garcia Jr. was facing. FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum has more.
Court documents also show that Garcia is accused in another sexual assault case.
What we know:
According to a probable cause statement by Scottsdale Police, Garcia is the suspect in a case that is being investigated by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
Authorities said the incident happened at a facility called Fountain Hills Post Acute. Findings from the Department of Health revealed that the investigation was done in March 2024, and MCSO confirmed that Garcia is an employee referred to as "Staff 13" in those documents.
Per the findings, one patient involved lived with PTSD, muscle weakness, and bipolar disorder, and she needed help with bed mobility, cleaning, and dressing. The patient accused Garcia of massaging her neck and shoulders after removing her top, and made her uncomfortable when he cleaned her chest.
Meanwhile, another resident told investigators that Garcia was always hanging around their room, and had tried to massage her arms.
Garcia reportedly declined to interview with the state, saying it was a private matter. On March 6, 2024, the Director of Nursing at Fountain Hills Post Acute told officials that Garcia had been fired for refusing to interview and refusing to "follow facility protocol."
Dig deeper:
The facility was issued two citations by the state for violating residents' rights and not keeping them free from abuse and neglect.
We have reached out to Fountain Hills Post Acute for comment, but they have yet to respond.
As for Garcia's case involving Scottsdale Village Square, he is accused of a count of sexual assault and a count of emotion abuse of a vulnerable adult. Both are felonies.
A judge has set a $100,000 bond for Garcia.
"If you post that bond, and you're released on that ankle monitor, you cannot have any contact with the alleged victim, you cannot possess drugs without a valid prescription, and you cannot be unaccompanied with a vulnerable adult," a judge told Garcia, during his court appearance.
What's next:
We have reached out to Scottsdale Village Square for comment on whether the staff knew about the allegations against Garcia in Fountain Hills when they decided to hire him.
Scottsdale Village Square officials have yet to respond.