A jury was seated Thursday for the trial of a 53-year-old Lake Elsinore man accused of sexually assaulting three girls, then fleeing to Guatemala upon learning he was under investigation.
Santos Erasmo Garcia is charged with nearly two dozen felony counts, most of which allege either aggravated sexual assault of a minor or forcible lewd acts on a child, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of targeting more than one underage victim in sex crimes.
After nearly a week of jury selection, a panel was sworn in Thursday at the Riverside Hall of Justice, where Riverside County Superior Court Judge Tim Hollenhorst then directed the prosecution and defense to deliver opening statements.
The prosecution’s first witnesses will be summoned on Monday.
Garcia is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.
Court documents allege that between September 2010 and April 2017, the defendant molested three girls identified in court documents only as “J.H.” “L.R.” and “M.R.”
One of the victims, now 15 years old, alleged Garcia forced her to have sex with him and assaulted her afterward on more than one occasion — the first time when she was 8, according to a sheriff’s arrest warrant declaration.
The youth described how Garcia allegedly threw her onto a bed, got on top of her and kissed her neck, but she screamed and he stopped. When the child was 9, the defendant allegedly began to touch her chest and privates, according to the affidavit . He would allegedly pull over to do it whenever she was in the car with him and would tell her if she wanted a new phone or a ride to the second victim’s home, she would have to “do it.”
By the time she was 11 or 12, Garcia allegedly began trying to penetrate her and would attempt to make her perform oral sex, according to court documents. He also allegedly began to have sex with her and the second victim, making either of the two watch while he abused one.
The second victim said her first experience with Garcia was when she was 5, and he allegedly touched her privates. He also allegedly attempted to rape her when she was 7, and a few other times when she was 10 or 11, investigators said.
It’s alleged he additionally attempted to compel her to perform oral sex and molested her on a weekly basis.
The last alleged assault on the two victims happened in March 2017, and in that same year, the first victim contacted the second victim, saying she intended to disclose what Garcia had allegedly done, according to the declaration.
On June 6, 2017, the first victim was interviewed, followed a month later by the other girl, and the third victim not long afterward.
The only details available about the third victim was that Garcia allegedly touched her chest and privates.
“Garcia learned about the accusations and fled to Guatemala,” sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Reese said.
In September 2023, law enforcement personnel in Guatemala, working in concert with authorities in Riverside County, were able to track down and arrest Garcia without incident. He was extradited back to the U.S.
He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.