Mother sentenced in child porn case

AUSTIN (KXAN) - After being charged with sexually abusing two children under 5 years old, Mariana Garcia has been sentenced to 40 years in prison.

The mother accepted the plea deal Friday, according to an Austin police officer.

Garcia was arrested in February after fleeing to Mexico. Her boyfriend, Adrian Navarro, surrendered on Jan. 31 in San Antonio under similar charges.

Garcia was with her two little girls at the time of her arrest, who are now in the hands of Child Protective Services.

Police learned of the sexual abuse when they searched Navarro and Garcia's Austin apartment during a burglary investigation Jan. 22 and found more than 500 photos and at least 15 videos of child porn.

Investigators said some of the videos show the couple engaging in sexual acts with two female children under the age of 5 years old.

Garcia could have faced life in prison.

Meanwhile, Navarro hasn’t yet been tried. He also faces five- to 99 years or life in prison and a fine up to $10,000. Navarro is also charged with promoting child pornography, a second-degree felony.