Sex offender gets probation

An Elgin man charged with molesting a minor thanked a Rolling Meadows judge for sentencing him to probation instead of prison. "Don't thank me, thank the State," said Judge Thomas Fecarotta who sentenced 39-year-old Martin Garcia to 30 months probation in exchange for Garcia pleading guilty to one count of criminal sexual abuse. "It is very rare sir, that I would go along with probation for someone molesting a child," said Fecarotta, who noted for the record that the victim's mother agreed with the sentence. "If you violate your probation in any way, shape or form, rest assured I will send you to the penitentiary," he said. Fecarotta also ordered Garcia to have no contact with anyone under 18, except in the presence of another adult, which the court defined as anyone 25 or older. In addition, Garcia must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.