Parks employee charged with sex offense

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A 30-year-old program instructor with the Austin Parks and Recreation Department was charged Friday with sexual assault of a child, police said.

Juan Garza Jr., who has been with the department since 2002 and had passed several background checks, was terminated by the city, Parks Director Sara Hensley said during a news conference with Police Chief Art Acevedo.

"Nothing in these background checks gave us any cause to re-evaluate his fitness for duty," Hensely said.

Garza was arrested around 2:45 p.m. Friday evening, after confessing to the crime. 

Authorities said Garza and a 14-year-old boy had communicated with each other on social media sites before agreeing to meet on Sunday. That's when the assault took place at Garza's apartment, authorities said.

"Multiple assaults occurred between 9pm and midnight on December 2nd," said Police Chief Art Acevedo in a press conference held Friday evening.  "It's very important for the community to know none of these incidents occurred at The Dove Springs Recreation Center.

Garza had been assigned to the Dove Springs Recreation Center  for 9 years up until he transferred to The Ditmar Recreation Center back in October of this year. He and the boy met at the center about a year ago, and they began communicating online about a month ago, authorities said.

Police say on December 5th, Garza called into APD and confessed to the crime. Police launched the investigation from there and are asking any other possible victims to come forth. 

If you have any additional information you are told to contact APD's child abuse department at 512-974-6880.

Police are also urging parents to keep an eye out on their children's computer activity.

The parks department plans to make counselors available at the recreation center in Southeast Austin this weekend to answer any questions from parents or students.