Gillespie County man in jail accused of sexually assaulting 16-yr.-old girl

The Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 49-year-old man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl he met through work -a case Sheriff Chris Ayala calls a warning for parents to stay aware of their children’s workplaces and schedules.  The suspect, identified as Jose Garcia-Flores, was reportedly in a leadership role at the same place of employment as the victim.  He was taken into custody on Oct. 10 and is facing a charge of sexual assault of a child.

According to investigators, the months-long investigation began May 10, when the victim came forward and reported the assault.  Sheriff Ayala said the girl was pregnant as a result of the incident.  Ayala urged parents to stay in close contact with their teens about their jobs – and to communicate directly with their children’s employers.

“It does take a lot of courage,” Sheriff Ayala said.  “But we can’t get the conviction without the assistance of the victim.  For this young lady to come forward, it was a big step for her to be able to tell family, much less have to sit across from a police officer and then do an interview.”  He added that conversations about work experiences can open the door for children to share concerns or troubling experiences.

Garcia-Flores is being held in the Gillespie County Jail on a $100,000 bond.