A judge Tuesday gave an Ethan man 30 years in prison on child abuse charges during sentencing in the First Judicial Court.
Margarito Anthony Garza, 35, was sentenced to 30 years in prison on three counts of first degree rape, a Class C felony; sexual contact with a minor under 16, a Class C felony and sexual exploitation of a minor, a Class 6 felony.
Judge Chris Giles sentenced Garza to 15 years in the penitentiary, with 5 years suspended, on each of the three counts of the charges. The three sentences are to run consecutively, which brings the total to 30 years.
According to court documents, law enforcement received a complaint that the defendant was sexually abusing three children, all under the age of 12, at his residence in Ethan. The children were ages 7, 8 and either 10 or 11 years old at the time. The complaint stated that the activity had been going on for over a year.
