“Before this happened, I wasn’t someone who lived with fear or anxiety. But now, every day, I relive what happened on Oct. 10. Every day, the memories interrupt my thoughts and my peace. My quality of life has changed immensely. I can’t enjoy simple things anymore, watching a movie, playing with my child, driving, sleeping, or even having a normal conversation, without that day or the question of ‘why I stayed so long’ coming back to me.”-Victim Statement
Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace announced today that Jorge Garcia, 42, of Yonkers, was sentenced to 5 years in state prison Tuesday for strangling his partner to unconsciousness, in front of their then-2-year-old son, in 2023.
Judge Robert Prisco further sentenced Garcia to undergo 3 years of post-release supervision and provided permanent orders of protection for the victims.
Following a bench trial in November, Judge Prisco convicted the defendant of Strangulation in the Second Degree, a class D felony, Assault in the Second Degree (two counts), a class D felony, Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree, a class E felony, Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor.
DA Cacace said: “The defendant’s callousness towards his partner, the mother of his child, can hardly be put into words. But the only thing stronger than his depravity is the victim’s will to persevere, for herself and her son. I am inspired by her remarkable courage in not only surviving this attack, but reporting her abuser and seeing this case all the way through trial and conviction.
“I will never stop advocating for those fleeing abusive relationships. Survivors of domestic violence will always have a champion in this office.”
On Oct. 10, 2023, the victim knocked over a coffee machine in the kitchen. Enraged by this, the defendant tore down a camera that had been set up in the kitchen and dragged the victim to the bathroom, leaving their then-2-year-old son lying alone on the hallway floor.
The defendant then guided the victim’s body, while firmly grasping onto her neck, into the space between the toilet and the bathtub and placed his hands around her neck, strangling her until she lost consciousness.
The victim suffered permanent injuries from this attack, such as a fractured cheek bone, which required the insertion of a permanent titanium plate in her face.
In a victim impact statement read aloud at sentencing, the victim stated: “Before this happened, I wasn’t someone who lived with fear or anxiety. But now, every day, I relive what happened on Oct. 10. Every day, the memories interrupt my thoughts and my peace. My quality of life has changed immensely. I can’t enjoy simple things anymore, watching a movie, playing with my child, driving, sleeping, or even having a normal conversation, without that day or the question of ‘why I stayed so long’ coming back to me.”
The investigation was conducted by the Yonkers Police Department and the Special Prosecutions Division.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Daniela Pisahov and Domestic Violence Deputy Bureau Chief Janelle Armentano, of the Special Prosecutions Division.
