MENIFEE: Man booked on multiple molestation-related charges

MENIFEE — A man accused of molesting at least one child younger than 10-years-old was arrested yesterday afternoon at his Menifee home on Via Valeroso, a small cu-de-sac that only features ten homes, northeast of Bradley and Newport Roads.

He was later booked into jail on several felony charges related to the incidents, which occurred over a prolonged period, according to booking records. The alleged suspect remains in custody on $1 million bail and could be facing additional charges when he is arraigned at Riverside’s Hall of Justice next Monday.

SEE ALSO: No charges for Menifee man accused of indecent exposure, annoying minor

After an investigation, sheriff’s officials arrested Joshua Ford Garcia, 28, of Menifee. He was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of sodomy by force, sodomy with a child younger than 10, sexual penetration by force, oral copulation with a child younger than 10, lewd and lascivious acts with a child younger than 14 and the ongoing sexual abuse of a child younger than 14.

The charge of ongoing sexual abuse of a child younger than 14 – the most serious of Garcia’s charges, which covers incest and “crimes against nature” – indicated Garcia is alleged to have had no less than three separate sexual encounters with a child who either resides in the same home as Garcia or who the alleged suspect had ongoing, recurring access to. Garcia could face as much as 16 years in state prison if convicted of that charge alone.

In a response to a Press Enterprise request for information, the Sheriff’s Department said the arrest happened when deputies assigned to the Menifee Police Department received information regarding the sexual assault of a minor.

Officials have not stated if there are more than one suspected victims and have not released any other details regarding yesterday’s arrest. It was not immediately known if the department planned on issuing a press release or any further details regarding the allegations and arrest.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or other potential victims is encouraged to contact Perris Sheriff’s Station at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number  ME180810079 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.