Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on May 6 that Walter Villanueva, a Chandler dentist, has been indicted for failing to report the alleged abuse of a child patient at his dental practice.
The case highlights the responsibilities of medical professionals under Arizona’s Mandatory Reporting law. The law requires medical professionals to immediately report any suspected abuse of minors to law enforcement or the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
According to Mitchell, in September 2022, the mother of a six-year-old girl contacted and met with Villanueva after her daughter told her that dental assistant Deion Garcia had abused her during a dental exam. After this meeting, Villanueva did not make a report to police about the alleged abuse.
Villanueva now faces one count of Failure to Report Nonaccidental Injuries and Physical Neglect of Minors, which is classified as a Class Six Felony. In addition, Deion Garcia was indicted in May 2024 on multiple felony counts including Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. Sentencing for Garcia is tentatively scheduled for June 10, 2026.
Mitchell said that more information about Arizona’s Mandatory Reporting laws can be found on MCAO’s Mandatory Reporting webpage. She also reminded the public: “A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”
The indictment serves as a reminder that failure by professionals to follow reporting requirements can result in criminal charges.
