On July 8, 2005, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Lloyd Hicks imposed a 15 year and 8 month prison sentence on 38 year old Robert Ray Garcia of Visalia. Garcia pled guilty to assault on a peace officer (Penal Code section 245(c)) and residential burglary (Penal Code section 459) with special allegations for using a knife during the crimes, for having a strike conviction on his record, for suffering a prior serious felony, and for suffering four prior prison terms. The defendant’s prior strike conviction was a residential burglary as well.

On December 30, 2004 an off duty peace officer walked into his garage and discovered the defendant standing there in the dark. When the off duty officer told the defendant to sit down outside and wait for the police, the defendant tried to run away. The off duty officer ran after the defendant and tackled him in a nearby yard. As the off duty officer struggled with the defendant on the ground, the defendant pulled out a knife and tried to stab the victim in the abdomen. At that point the victim let go of the defendant and he fled on foot. The defendant was arrested a few days later in Visalia.

The defendant was sentenced to serve a total of 15 years and 8 months in prison for the two felonies. Since the current crimes are violent felonies under the law, he will have to serve 85% of his sentence before he can be paroled. The defendant was also ordered to pay a $3000 restitution fine and provide blood and saliva samples, and well as fingerprints pursuant to Penal Code section 296.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Ralph Kaelble of the Crimes Against Peace Officers Unit and investigated by the Visalia Police Department.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney Carol Turner, 733-6411.