Jose Garcia-Flores is being held in the Gillespie County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
GILLESPIE COUNTY, Texas — The Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 49-year-old man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl he met through work — a case Sheriff Chris Ayala calls a warning for parents to stay aware of their children’s workplaces and schedules.
According to investigators, the months-long investigation began May 10, when the victim came forward and reported the assault. Sheriff Ayala said the girl was pregnant as a result of the incident.
The suspect, identified as Jose Garcia-Flores, was reportedly in a leadership role at the same place of employment as the victim. He was taken into custody on Oct. 10 and is facing a charge of sexual assault of a child.
“It does take a lot of courage,” Sheriff Ayala said. “But we can’t get the conviction without the assistance of the victim. For this young lady to come forward, it was a big step for her to be able to tell family, much less have to sit across from a police officer and then do an interview.”
Ayala urged parents to stay in close contact with their teens about their jobs — and to communicate directly with their children’s employers.
“Have parents reach out to the employer, talk to them, get to know who their boss is, and get a copy of their schedule,” he said.
He added that conversations about work experiences can open the door for children to share concerns or troubling experiences.
“We as parents have an expectation that the people our kids work with have been vetted, trained and treat these young workers with the highest respect and professionalism,” Ayala said.
Garcia-Flores is being held in the Gillespie County Jail on a $100,000 bond.