A dental assistant accused of inappropriately touching and taking images of undressed pediatric patients during dental x-ray exams at an Arizona dental practice has pleaded guilty to child sex crimes, according to a story published on April 21 on FOX 10 Phoenix.
Deion Garcia, 29, who worked at Kidiatric Dental & Orthodontics in Chandler, AZ, is expected to be sentenced in June, according to the story.
To date, two lawsuits related to Garcia’s alleged behavior have been filed against Kidiatric.
Deion Alexander Garcia.Maricopa County's Sheriff's Office.
Furthermore, the parents accuse Garcia and Kidiatric of negligent training, hiring, and supervision. Also, they allege the practice and its owner, Dr. Walter Villanueva, knew or should have known about a 2022 incident against Garcia, which didn't result in charges, that was “criminal.”
In 2022, while Garcia was employed at Kidiatric's practice, a 6-year-old girl reportedly told her parents that Garcia touched her inappropriately during her x-ray exam. The parents told police that their daughter purportedly acted differently after Garcia took her x-rays, and she allegedly said she never wanted to go back there again, according to reports.
The girl was interviewed by authorities, but no DNA evidence linked Garcia to these claims, and the investigation was closed due to a lack of evidence.
In February 2025, the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners required Kidiatric to have chaperones for minor patients due to Garcia's alleged inappropriate conduct.
Villanueva signed an agreement with the board that chaperones will monitor minor patients at both Kidiatric offices. The chaperones must be from a third-party company and must be preapproved by the board, according to the board. The practice remains under these restrictions until Garcia's criminal case is resolved.
