Bell Gardens Man Acquitted Of Kidnapping Ex-Girlfriend's Teenage Daughter
FULLERTON (CBSLA.com) — A Bell Gardens man accused of abducting his former girlfriend's teenage daughter in Santa Ana and sexually assaulting her for more than 10 years was acquitted Friday of kidnapping.
Jurors deadlocked 9-3 in favor of guilt on a rape charge against Isidro Medrano Garcia, prompting Senior Deputy District Attorney Whitney Bokosky to drop that count.
But the 42-year-old was convicted of committing lewd acts on a child.
Prosecutors said Garcia kidnapped the 15-year-old girl in August 2004, impregnating her and moved her around Southern California. He even changed his identity as well as her name and age so he could legally marry her.
Garcia was accused of forcing his captive into marriage in 2007 and had a child with her in 2012. The victim said she took pills to enhance her fertility during her time with Garcia, according to Bokosky.
In 2014, the victim went to the Bell Gardens police station and told officers she was being abused and wanted a divorce.
Elenor Miklos was one of 12 jurors who voted in favor of convicting Garcia of rape. "I felt like she was a 15-year-old child. She was only in this country for a couple of months, and here's a 30-year-old taking advantage of her. I do believe that she said that she wanted him to stop, and he should have stopped. I think that's rape," Miklos said.
The defense attorney argued that the girl had many chances to leave Garcia over the course of 10 years and go to authorities, but she did not.
Garcia faces up to four years and four months in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 15.
