A Marathon man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after a three-day Sexual Abuse jury trial.
The case against Jose Javier Garces-Ruiz was prosecuted by Buena Vista County Attorney Paul Allen and Assistant County Attorney Ashely Herrig on behalf of the state of Iowa. The case had been investigated by the Buena Vista County Sheriff’s Office.
The jury found Garces-Ruiz guilty of sexual abuse in the third degree in April, and Judge Carl Petersen handed down the sentence this week.
Prior to testimony the defendant provided an Admission of Prior Violations from Woodbury County, which allowed the county to enhance charges from a Class C felony to a Class A felony.