local
Ex-dental assistant sentenced for sexually abusing children during X-rays
By Mitchell Koch, Jordan Gartner at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 18, 2026
· 1 min read
CHANDLER, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — A former dental assistant has been sentenced for sexually abusing children who were under his care.According to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Deion Garcia, 29, will spend 40 years in prison with lifetime supervised probation as part of a plea deal.Th...
Key takeaway The investigation into Garcia began in May 2024, when Chandler police were told of sexual abuse that happened at Kidiatric Dental, a children’s dental office.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The sentencing of Deion Garcia, a former dental assistant, for sexually abusing children during X-rays, raises concerns about the safety and security of pediatric dental offices in Nashville . While this incident occurred in Arizona, it serves as a stark reminder for local dental offices to review their protocols and ensure that proper background checks and monitoring systems are in place to protect vulnerable children. The fact that Garcia was able to exploit his position of trust and commit heinous crimes against multiple children is a disturbing wake-up call for the entire dental community. As Nashville parents take their children to dental offices, they expect a safe and trustworthy environment, and it is crucial that local authorities and dental offices take proactive steps to prevent such incidents from occurring in the city. The indictment of Dr. Walter Villanueva, the owner of Kidiatric Dental, on a felony count related to failure to report suspected child abuse, also highlights the need for accountability and vigilance among dental office administrators.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 18, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 1 min
Get more The Nashville stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? CHANDLER, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) — A former dental assistant has been sentenced for sexually abusing children who were under his care.According to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Deion Garcia, 29, will spend 40 years in prison with lifetime supervised probation as part of a plea deal.Th...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 18, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Mitchell Koch, Jordan Gartner at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter