01/15/16 — Man charged with sexual battery at Y

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Man charged with sexual battery at Y

By John Joyce
Published in News on January 15, 2016 1:46 PM

A Snow Hill man continues to sit in jail awaiting trial on charges of sexual battery after allegedly fondling a handicapped male in the steam room at the Goldsboro Family Y in December.

According to a press release issued by the Goldsboro Police Department Jan. 7, Filberto Garcia, 41, is charged with two counts of second-degree forcible sex offense and a misdemeanor count of sexual battery.

The alleged abuse was reported Dec. 8 at approximately 9:40 p.m. at the Y. Police officers responded and took a report, but the suspect had already left the area. The subsequent investigation led to the identification of Garcia as the suspect.

Garcia was located and arrested Jan. 7 and brought before the Wayne County magistrate who set his bond at $300,000.

Garcia was placed in the Wayne County Detention Center and was given a first-appearance in Wayne County District Court on Jan. 11 where he was read the charges against him an appointed counsel.

Local attorney Worth T. Haithcock II has been assigned to represent Garcia, who is next due to appear in district court Jan. 25.