Child-Porn Suspect Was Set to Play Santa at Miami Middle School

Charlie Garcia, 30 an 11-year employee at Paul W. Bell Middle School, located in west Miami-Dade, was all set to play Santa Claus for the school's holiday festivities. Then Broward Sheriff's Officers knocked on his door. They arrested him for the very un-Santa like crime of possessing child pornography...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

December 27, 2010

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "19274298",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17482312",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482310",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18711090",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17482313",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Charlie Garcia, 30 an 11-year employee at Paul W. Bell Middle School, located in west Miami-Dade, was all set to play Santa Claus for the school's holiday festivities. Then Broward Sheriff's Officers knocked on his door. They arrested him for the very un-Santa like crime of possessing child pornography.

Garcia worked as a computer-information technology employee at the school, a bit north of the FIU campus, but lived in Miramar.

The officers converged on his home on December 17th, and confiscated his personal laptop. That's where they found more than 50 images of children, some as young as infants, engaged in sexual activity with adults.

Authorities were tipped off when Garcia was detected downloading some of the images from a file-sharing service.

He has been charged with 30 counts of possession of child pornography.

Authorities do not have any evidence that Garcia himself abused children, but are asking anyone in the community to come forward if they do. The public may call Detective Joe Vella at 954-888-5240 or report information anonymously to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).

Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.

KEEP NEW TIMES FREE... Since we started New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Miami, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.