Garner man sentenced to ten years on sexual abuse charge

GARNER — A Garner man has been sentenced to ten years in prison after being convicted of sexual abuse.

27-year-old Juan Vargas was arrested last November after being accused of performing a sexual act with a woman who had passed out at a party after consuming a large amount of alcohol.

Vargas opted for a bench trial instead of a trial by jury, with District Judge Colleen Weiland issuing a written verdict in late January, finding him guilty of third-degree sexual abuse, a Class C felony punishable by up to ten years in prison.

Weiland sentenced him to the maximum sentence during a hearing in Hancock County DIstrict Court.