Santa Clara County

46-Year-Old Gilroy Man Arrested on Suspicion of Child Molestation

A Gilroy man was arrested Thursday afternoon on suspicion of child molestation, according to police.

Antonio Garcia, 46, was taken into custody around 2 p.m. today after investigators obtained an arrest warrant from the district attorney's office. He was arrested after dropping off his daughter at her elementary school.

Garcia, a Little League assistant coach, was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and aggravated sexual assault of a child, police said.

While investigating the initial allegations that Garcia molested a 5-year-old child, police learned of additional victims. They say the allegations against Garcia go back 15 years and there may be more victims that have not yet come forward.

"The four identified victims that we know of at this point are extended family members of the suspect," Gilroy Police Department Sgt. Royce Heath said.

Because of Garcia’s involvement in youth sports, and because his own son was in the Boy Scouts, police fear there may be more potential victims.

“It’s extremely troubling,” Heath said. “It’s a tragedy for anyone involved, especially the victims. We never want to hear of any child, or any person for that matter, being victimized, especially in a manner so horrendous as this.”

Garcia also owns Tony’s Embroidery in Gilroy. The business was closed for the day. Workers in neighboring shops were stunned.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Gilroy Police Department at (408) 846-0350.

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