Chandler dental assistant receives 40-year sentence for sexually abusing multiple children

A Chandler dental assistant was sentenced Friday to 40 years in prison for sexually abusing multiple children under the age of 10 while working, officials announced.

Deion Garcia, 29, pleaded guilty to a count of attempted molestation of a child, a count of sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

His time in prison is to be followed by a lifetime of supervised probation.

“This defendant was trusted with the care of vulnerable children during routine dental procedures, and he exploited that trust for his own sexual gratification,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a announcement.

What Chandler police found

In May 2024, the Chandler Police Department received a report from a 6-year-old’s parents that Garcia had taken inappropriate pictures and inappropriately touched her during an X-ray exam at a dental office near Arizona Avenue and Chandler Heights Road.

Investigators then connected the case with an September 2022 incident where another 6-year-old was sexually abused during an X-ray exam.

While searching Garcia’s phone, authorities also found multiple inappropriate photos of a 4-year-old, who was under anesthesia when the abuse occurred.

In April, Dr. Walter Villanueva was indicted for allegedly failing to notify authorities after Garcia was accused of sexually abusing a young girl during an exam.

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