Florida Highway Patrol trooper, wife charged with sexually abusing a minor: MDSO
.jpg "A Florida Highway Patrol trooper, Johan Garcia (left) and a woman, Liz Garcia (right), face a criminal charge for allegedly sexually abusing a minor, following allegations from a victim who came forward in Miami-Dade.")
A Florida Highway Trooper and his wife were thrown behind bars Wednesday, three years after deputies say they sexually abused a minor.
A 17-year-old girl came forward to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office to report being abused repeatedly by Johan Garcia when she was 12 and 14, an arrest report read.
At 12 years old, Garcia, a 41-year-old FHP trooper, would massage her back and then grope her under her clothes, she told law enforcement officials.
In 2022, the abuse escalated when the girl was 14. Johan Garcia’s wife, Liz Garcia, told her husband that she found out the teen was “sexting” a boy. Johan then took her into his bedroom, had her remove her clothes and sexually abused her, the report read.
When questioned, deputies said Liz, 37, told them in an interview that the minor “wanted to use tampons, was talking to boys in a sexual manner and she suspected that she was sexually active.” Liz gave another statement to deputies, though it is redacted in her arrest report.
The married couple was arrested on Wednesday for the same charge of engaging in a sexual act on a child, though it is unclear what Liz’ role in the abuse as detectives did not detail it in her arrest paperwork.
As of Thursday afternoon, they both remained in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. Court records show they were both denied bond and have a stay away order from the victim.
Miami Herald staff writer Milena Malaver contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM.
%20Cropped%20(2).jpg)