HAINES CITY, Fla. — Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a 29-year-old Haines City man Friday, charging him with committing sexual battery on an 8-year-old girl.
- Wilibaldo Salinas Garcia, 29, faces a capital felony charge
- Investigation began August 24
- Detectives have audio, text evidence that Garcia admitted to, apologized for crime
Investigators said Wilibaldo Salinas Garcia, 29, has been charged with Sexual Battery on a Person less than 12 years of age, a capital felony.
The investigation reportedly began on Aug. 24, when the 8-year-old girl told her mother that Garcia entered her bedroom, touched her inappropriately, and forced her to touch him. The girl told detectives that Garcia had done something similar to her the year prior, as well.
According to the Sheriff's Office, Garcia apologized to the mother for what he'd done and said he would apologize to the girl, as well. Detectives have in their possession audio and text message evidence to Garcia's admission of the crime and his apology.
"'Sorry' won't cut it for this guy," Polk Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. "He's only sorry he got caught. He tried to prevent getting caught by telling the girl that if she told her mother, her mother would hit her."
Garcia is from Mexico and in the country undocumented, according to the Sheriff's Office. A hold has been placed on him at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Investigators also learned that Garcia has an alias — Lorenzo Sipriano — and a prior criminal history consisting of three misdemeanor charges for resisting arrest, loitering, and marijuana possession.