Carol Stream man gets 8 years for assaulting girl
A Carol Stream man was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday for sexually assaulting and exposing himself to a 5-year-old girl while her mother was out shopping.
John Garcines, 27, pleaded guilty to predatory criminal sexual assault for the February 2011 attack in Bloomingdale.
Authorities said the victim was a daughter of a friend of Garcines, who agreed to look after the child when her mother went to the store. Instead, he exposed himself and molested her — even as she pleaded for him to stop, Prosecutor Kirsten King said.
Garcines later admitted inappropriately touching the victim, who described the attack as “icky,” King said.
“The defendant stated he knew it was wrong,” she told Judge John Kinsella in DuPage County court Wednesday.
Kinsella had harsh words as he imposed the 8-year term.
“Obviously, the offense you committed here was reprehensible and despicable,” he told Garcines. “Reprehensible, despicable and shameful.”
Garcines could have faced up to 60 years if convicted at trial, but his sentence was agreed upon by the prosecution and defense. The victim’s family also was consulted.
By law, he must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence — nearly seven years — and register as a sex offender. Garcines, who has worked as an insurance agent and for an in-home health care agency, had no prior criminal history.
A native of the Philippines, Garcines has been a legal U.S. resident for about seven years but could be deported as a result of his conviction.