Father Armand Garcia
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Ordained: 2005
Suspended: 2018
Arrested: March 2019
Assigned as follows:
2005-2008: Saint Joseph (Downington, PA)
2008-2009: Saint Eleanor (Collegeville, PA)
2009-2010: Saint Katherine of Siena (Philadelphia, PA)
2010-2011: Personal Leave
2011: Our Lady of the Assumption (Strafford, PA)
2011-2017: Immaculate Heart of Mary (Roxborough/Philadelphia, PA)
2017-2018: Saint Martin of Tours (Northeast Philadelphia, PA)
Summary of Allegations against Father Armand Garcia:
On October 22, 2023, Father Amand Garcia pleaded guilty to felony sex crimes of corruption of a minor and unlawful sexual contact with a minor. The case involved a a 16-year old female altar service at Immaculate Hart of Mary parish in the Andorra neighborhood. According to the victim's statement in court, she knew the priest since she was 13 years old as was a friend of her father. She went to see him in 2014 to confide in him about a personal matter and he "exploited" her trust, eventually assaulting and raping her. The sexual abuse occurred at the Immaculate Heart of Mary between 2014 and 2017. Garcia also committed unlawful conduct with the same girl in his home in Delaware County, according to the District Attorney.
The victim, now age 25, reported the sexual assault after Garcia was transferred to St. Martin of Tours parish in Summerdale in 2017 when she was away at college. As part of Garcia's plea agreement with prosecutors, a rape charge was dismissed. Garcia is scheduled to be sentenced in January 2024.
Events leading up to arrest and guilty plea
According to media reports, in March 2018, police executed a search warrant on the St. Martin of Tours parish rectory. The same day, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia removed Father Armand Garcia from his post at St. Martin of Tours, publicly stating only that the removal was related to the police investigation of "a report of alleged misconduct with a minor."
In March 2019, police arrested Garcia and charged him with rape of a teenage girl. According to media reports, the abuse of the girl allegedly occurred at Immaculate Heart in Roxborough in August 2014. The girl was around 16 at the time. Police say he also recorded himself having sex with the girl. Some reports state that the abuse continued until Garcia was transferred from the parish in 2017.
A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia told reporters that it is the same allegation that led to the March 2018 search warrant, not a new allegation. Until his arrest, Garcia was residing in a private residence in Aston, Pennsylvania, according to the Archdiocese.
Anyone with information about Garcia's sexual misconduct is encouraged to contact police investigators.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Pennsylvania, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia may have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so please do not delay in reaching out to us.
Contact us at 888-283-9922 or adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com to discuss your options today.