A dentist in Arizona has been indicted for failing to report the abuse of a child patient at his dental practice, stemming from a dental assistant who has pleaded guilty to child sex crimes, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Arizona.
Dr. Walter Villanueva, 46, the owner and operator of Kidiatric Dental & Orthodontics in Chandler, AZ, has been indicted on one felony count of failure to report nonaccidental injuries and physical neglect of minors. His indictment is related to Deion Garcia, 29, a dental assistant who is expected to be sentenced in June for inappropriately touching and taking images of undressed pediatric patients during dental x-ray exams at Kidiatric.
Deion Alexander Garcia.Maricopa County's Sheriff's Office.
In September 2022, the victim’s mother called and met with Villanueva after her 6-year-old daughter told her that Garcia had abused her during a dental exam. Villanueva allegedly failed to report the abuse to police as required under Arizona’s Mandatory Reporting law. As a medical professional, Villanueva was required to immediately report the suspected abuse to law enforcement, according to a press release dated May 6 from the attorney’s office.
To date, two lawsuits related to Garcia’s alleged behavior have been filed against Kidiatric.
In April 2025, the family that triggered the initial investigation into Garcia filed a lawsuit claiming that their 6-year-old child went to Kidiatric Dental and while alone with Garcia to take x-rays, he pulled down her shorts and underwear, inappropriately touched her, and took photos of her with his phone.
Furthermore, the parents accuse Garcia and Kidiatric of negligent training, hiring, and supervision. Also, they allege the practice and Villanueva knew or should have known about a 2022 incident against Garcia, which didn't result in charges, that was “criminal.”
In February 2025, the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners required Kidiatric to have chaperones present 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.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
