WILLMAR -- Ismael Garcia, 24, of Willmar, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Kandiyohi County District Court to two gross misdemeanor charges for malicious punishment of a child.
As part of a plea agreement, six felony charges for second-degree criminal sexual conduct and six misdemeanor charges for domestic assault will be dismissed. Another felony second-degree criminal sexual conduct charge will be continued for dismissal for one year -- meaning it is not dismissed until one year passes without any violations of conditions.
Garcia is also seeking a stay of adjudication, which means if he complies with the conditions set by the court, no conviction will appear on his record.
A total of 15 charges were filed against Garcia in May after a police investigation into allegations that Garcia fondled the breasts of a 12-year-old girl and abused the girl and a 5-year-old boy at a Willmar home.
According to the complaint, Garcia beat the boy with a belt and choked him. The boy had to stay home from school for several days following the beating and suffered bruises to his cheeks, neck and back. The boy's mother and a sibling confirmed the incident with police. The accusations also said Garcia fondled the girl's breasts on a number of occasions between December and February, and that he hit her with his hands and a belt and called her degrading names.
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The plea was entered during a pre-trial hearing as the case was set for a two-day jury trial on Monday and Tuesday before Judge Michael J. Thompson. Sentencing is set for Jan. 7.
