Ex-dental assistant sentenced for sexually abusing children during X-rays

CHANDLER, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — A former dental assistant has been sentenced for sexually abusing children who were under his care.

According to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Deion Garcia, 29, will spend 40 years in prison with lifetime supervised probation as part of a plea deal.

The investigation into Garcia began in May 2024, when Chandler police were told of sexual abuse that happened at Kidiatric Dental, a children’s dental office.

Mitchell said the parents of a 6-year-old girl reported that Garcia inappropriately touched their child and took inappropriate photos of her during an X-ray exam.

Police said they also found that in September 2022, another 6-year-old reported being sexually abused during an X-ray at Kidiatric Dental.

When investigators searched Garcia’s phone, they found multiple inappropriate images of a 4-year-old child who was under anesthesia.

“This defendant was trusted with the care of vulnerable children during routine dental procedures, and he exploited that trust for his own sexual gratification,” the county attorney said. “I commend the work of the Chandler Police Department and sex crimes prosecutor Anshika Mehrotra in securing justice for these victims.”

Garcia pleaded guilty to one count of attempted molestation of a child, one count of sexual conduct with a minor and two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

Dr. Walter Villanueva, the owner of Kidiatric Dental, was indicted in May on a felony count related to failure to report suspected child abuse.