MAN FACES FORCIBLE SEX CHARGES FOR ASSAULTING WOMEN HE MET THROUGH ONLINE DATING SERVICE

For Immediate Release
October 23, 2006
Contact:

Susan Schroeder
Public Affairs Counsel
(714) 347-8408 Office
(714) 292-2718 Cell

MAN FACES FORCIBLE SEX CHARGES FOR ASSAULTING WOMEN HE MET THROUGH ONLINE DATING SERVICE

NEWPORT BEACH – A real estate agent was in court today to face forcible sex charges for assaulting three women in his Irvine home.  Joseph Raymond Garcia, 47, is charged with six counts of forcible sodomy and one count of forcible rape with a life allegation for committing the sexual assaults against more than one victim.  Garcia is facing 45 years to life in prison if convicted and is being held on $1,000,000 bail.  He is scheduled to be arraigned November 3, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-2, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

Between March 5, 2005 and October 18, 2006, Garcia is accused of violently sexually assaulting three women, ages 22 to 42, two of whom he met through an online dating service at millionairematch.com.  Garcia is accused of arranging to go on dates with the three women and then returning with them to his Irvine home, where he forcibly raped one victim and forcibly sodomized all three.

Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is asked to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Craig Kelsey at (714) 347-8794.  Deputy District Attorney Lynda Fernandez of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

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