Sturgis man found guilty

A Sturgis man was found guilty by jury this week on charges related to child pornography.

A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to the arrest and eventual conviction of 24-year-old Adalberto “Jacob” Garcia.

Garcia was found guilty after a two-day trial overseen this week by Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman. The case centered on child sexually abusive material possessed by Garcia.

NCMEC in April last year received a tip from SnapChat. The tip was tracked to an address in the 100 block of Susan Street in Sturgis, where state police investigators focused their attention.

After search warrants to SnapChat and Charter Communications were executed, Garcia was contacted and a search warrant was completed at his home.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Deborah Davis tried the case on behalf of the people of the State of Michigan. She used testimony from MSP detectives to tie together the NCMEC tip, SnapChat search warrant return pictures, and digital data collected from Garcia’s phone, PlayStation 5 and desktop computer.

Garcia, who was previously convicted of criminal sexual conduct fourth degree and was on felony probation at the time of the latest offenses, was convicted of using the internet to commit a crime and two counts of aggravated possession of child sexually abusive material.

He will be sentenced July 22.