What to Know
For more than 15 years, Kidiatric Dental & Orthodontics has served families through two locations in Arizona. Parents trusted the staff to care for their children’s dental needs, which sometimes meant using anesthesia. In May 2024, Chandler Police received a call about alleged sexual abuse at the Kidiatric location near Arizona Avenue and Chandler Heights Road.
A parent alleged dental assistant Deion Garcia touched and photographed their daughter during an appointment. As police looked further into Garcia, they found even more disturbing evidence that led to a decades-long prison sentence.
Garcia allegedly took advantage of the children’s innocence.
According to a release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the investigation began when a 6-year-old alleged Garcia touched her inappropriately during an X-ray at Kidiatric Dental & Orthodontics. The child also claimed Garcia took photos of her. The child’s mother approached the dental office and police with her story.
As law enforcement investigated Garcia, they connected him to similar allegations from 2022. At that time, a 6-year-old child claimed Garcia also touched them inappropriately during an X-ray.
“During a search of the defendant’s phone, police also found multiple inappropriate images of a 4-year-old victim who was under anesthesia when the abuse happened,” per a release.
Prosecutors charged a dentist with failing to report the crimes.
Per a release from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the 2024 victim’s mother reportedly met with Dr. Walter Villanueva, 46, the owner and operator of Kidiatric Dental & Orthodontics, to discuss allegations against Garcia. The parent reportedly provided the doctor with detailed information that should have been turned over to police. Villanueva allegedly failed to report the suspected abuse per Arizona’s Mandatory Reporting law.
“Villanueva has been indicted on one count of Failure to Report Nonaccidental Injuries and Physical Neglect of Minors, a Class Six Felony,” the release states.
According to Arizona law, as soon as Villanueva spoke to the parent and they alleged Garcia hurt their daughter, he had a duty to “immediately report or cause reports to be made of this information to a peace officer, to the department of child safety or to a tribal law enforcement or social services agency.”
Garcia ultimately pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
It is unclear when Garcia’s employment at the dental office ended or his exact arrest date. After speaking with investigators, Garcia ultimately pleaded guilty to one count of attempted child molestation, one count of sexual conduct with a minor, and two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.
A judge sentenced the 29-year-old former dental assistant to 40 years in prison.
“This defendant was trusted with the care of vulnerable children during routine dental procedures, and he exploited that trust for his own sexual gratification,” County Attorney Rachel Mitchell shared in a news release. “I commend the work of the Chandler Police Department and sex crimes prosecutor Anshika Mehrotra in securing justice for these victims. This 40-year sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes.”
