A Yuma former police officer, arrested more than five years ago on dozens of charges related to child sexual abuse, has accepted a plea agreement, thereby avoiding a jury trial.

Bobby Anthony Garcia, 43, pleaded guilty on April 8 to three felony counts: sexual conduct with a minor, molestation of a minor per domestic violence, and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

Under the terms of the agreement, prosecutors dropped the remaining charges ahead of his scheduled trial. Superior Court Judge Roger Nelson is presiding over the case. Garcia is represented by attorney Michael Bernays.

According to the plea deal, Garcia will receive a prison sentence for sexual conduct with a minor, with the term to be determined by the court.

For molestation of a minor per domestic violence, he will serve 24 years in prison, which will run consecutively to any other sentence imposed. On the attempted sexual exploitation charge, he will be placed on lifetime intensive probation.

Additionally, Garcia’s sentences will be known as “flat time,” meaning he will have to serve the entire sentence in full, without the possibility of early release through parole, good behavior credits or other forms of reduction.

“Flat time” commonly used in serious felony cases, including violent crimes or offenses with mandatory sentencing statutes and is meant to ensure the offender serves the exact amount of time ordered by the court.

Formal sentencing is set for May 8. Garcia remains in custody at the Yuma County jail.

Garcia was arrested in 2019 following an investigation by the Yuma Police Department, which began after a complaint alleged, he had an inappropriate relationship with a teenage girl while serving as a Neighborhood School Resource Officer between 2017 and 2018.

Initially denying any wrongdoing, Garcia’s claims were contradicted by digital evidence, including messages recovered from the victim’s phone. Investigators found that Garcia had requested explicit photos and videos from the teen and that she had once delivered alcohol to him at his home.

Garcia’s personal phone was later seized under a search warrant, but his refusal to provide access delayed forensic analysis. State and federal labs were initially unable to unlock the device, extending the duration of the investigation, which ultimately uncovered additional digital evidence.

Garcia faced a total of 47 charges before the plea agreement, including 27 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, 15 counts of sexual conduct with a minor, and several others related to obscenity and tampering with evidence.

Attorney Michael Donovan previously represented Garcia on some of the initial charges.