Sex offender asks for castration instead of jail
Associated Press
May 16, 2002 09:25:00

MIAMI - A man who confessed to sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy has told a judge he will plead guilty if he can avoid prison by being surgically castrated.

Ricardo Jose Garcia, 37, was accused last year of performing oral sex on a child under 12. Under Florida law, he would face a life sentence if convicted of an offense against a victim that young.

Garcia's trial was set to begin this week, but when Garcia made his request Miami Circuit Court Judge Roberto Pineiro called a recess and said he would ponder the ethics of the ruling. Pineiro was expected to respond Thursday.

Garcia made the request because prosecutors have a strong case against him, defense lawyer Roberto Pertierra said.

"They have a sworn confession and DNA evidence, and my client would be looking at a prison sentence that ends only when they carry you out in a casket," he said.

Miami-Dade County police arrested Garcia, then a popular social studies teacher at Miami Northwestern High School, in April 2001 for allegedly performed oral sex on a boy he was baby-sitting. He is under house arrest on $75,000 bond.

Florida's castration law took effect in 1997. The law makes chemical castration mandatory for repeat sex offenders and gives judges discretion to impose the punishment on first-time molesters. A judge cannot order surgical castration, but defendants can volunteer.

Prosecutor David Shapiro said he will push for a life sentence. He will contend that state law says neither chemical nor surgical castration can be used to reduce prison terms.