SHELBY, NC – On August 24, Cleveland County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at a home in the 400 block of McBrayer Street, in response to a fight between two men at the residence. However, they quickly discovered that the fight was over the fact that a 15-year-old girl living in the home had been repeatedly sexually assaulted by 29-year-old Osael Oswaldo Garcia.
The girl's mother told deputies that Garcia had been continuously molesting her daughter for a period of six months. The illegal alien had been purchasing items for the teen, such as clothing, eventually drawing the mother's suspicion.
The Shelby Star reported:
“Just like a lot of victims she was probably smitten by this guy. And with not having a lot of finance, I think he was helping her out with things she wanted,” he said.
Garcia, who is from El Salvador, first was introduced to the family at a construction job and allegedly met the girl after moving in with her family, who are from Honduras.
“They all worked together. He has no relation to the family,” a Cleveland County Sheriff's investigator said.
Under questioning, Garcia never made any attempt to deny that he had engaged in sexual intercourse with the young girl, and admitted that he was in the country illegally, according to charging documents.
Garcia has been charged with assault on a female, simple assault, two counts of statutory rape of a child and two counts of indecent liberties with a child. He was booked into the Cleveland County Jail on a $220,000 secured bond.
