Fall River man accused of impregnating his daughter sentenced to prison

After being canceled earlier this year, the trial for a Fall River man accused of impregnating his daughter has ended after the defendant pled guilty during the trial.

According to the Fulton County Georgia Sheriff’s Office, in April of 2022, the Fall River Police Department reached out to the Scorpion Unit with a minor victim, impregnated by her father. The Scorpion Unit, a special violent crime-suppression unit, acted quickly, fearing the suspect was planning on flying to Puerto Rico where he has family ties.

Roque Garcia-Ortiz was indicted on 3 counts of Rape, 6 counts of Aggravated Rape of a Child, 1 count of Indecent Assault & Battery on a Child Under 14, 1 count of Indecent Assault & Battery on a Person 14 or Over, and 1 count of Rape of Child with Force.

The Scorpion Unit located Garcia-Ortiz at a hotel in East Point. He was brought in without incident.

Garcia-Ortiz was released from Fulton County custody and was extradited to Massachusetts.

He was held without bail and pled not guilty.

According to court records, a change of plea hearing was scheduled in February of this year, but was not held at the request of Garcia-Ortiz.

A trial assignment conference was then scheduled at the end of February with a trial date set for March 3rd. The conference, however, turned into a hearing on withdrawal of attorney. Due to Garcia-Ortiz’s attorney change, both parties requested to cancel the March 3rd trial date, according to court records.

During the trial, the Commonwealth introduced a motion in limine to introduce evidence that the defendant’s abuse began in Puerto Rico.

Court records show that during the trial on Monday, Garcia-Ortiz changed his plea to not guilty and was sentenced to not less than 25 years to not more than 25 years and a day with credit for 1334 days served.