August 15, 2023 — Bryan Taylor, Canyon County Prosecutor, announced today that Yovany Garcia-Lopez, age 39, of Caldwell, was sentenced by the Honorable Randall S. Grove on two felony counts of Lewd Conduct with a Minor, one felony count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and one felony count of Injury to a Child.
Yovany Garcia-Lopez
Garcia-Lopez was convicted on June 2, 2023, by a jury of his peers following a jury trial that lasted four days. After hearing testimony from multiple witnesses, including the minor victim, the jurors came to a unanimous guilty verdict on all counts. The charges against Garcia-Lopez stem from events occurring between 2011 – 2021 with a single victim that included numerous instances of sexual abuse, manipulation, physical abuse, grooming, and threats to keep the child from disclosing the abuse.
After receiving the verdict, Judge Grove revoked the defendant’s bond and ordered the defendant to participate in both a Pre-Sentence Investigation and a Psycho Sexual Evaluation.
Today at sentencing, the Judge considered all the documentation provided, as well as arguments from the attorneys. The State asked for 20 years fixed, and an indeterminate sentence of up to life in prison, so the defendant would not be eligible for parole for 20 years, citing that for this minor victim, this was a “lifetime of abuse.” The State also requested a 50-year No Contact Order protecting the victim and a $5,000 civil penalty. The defense asked for five years fixed, with no indeterminate sentence because the defendant is expected to be deported immediately upon release and he has no plans of returning.
Judge Grove commented that the defendant is a threat to all children of any age, and the sentence needed to reflect not only this threat to the community and the seriousness of this crime, but also deter others from contemplating such heinous acts against children. Judge Grove sentenced the defendant to 30 years in prison, with 17 fixed and 13 years indeterminate, meaning the defendant will be eligible for parole in 17 years. He also ordered a No Contact Order protecting the victim for the entire 30 years and ordered the defendant to pay a $5000 civil penalty. Garcia-Lopez must also register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
“The bravery shown by the victims in these types of cases is truly commendable,” said Prosecutor Bryan Taylor. “Not only do they have to undergo physical and sexual abuse, but they also have to endure getting up on a witness stand and confronting their abuser. That takes incredible strength, and I’m thankful for days like today when they receive the type of justice that they deserve.”