A former commodore of the Coronado Yacht club appeared in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing on charges he allegedly molested his 10-year-old neighbor and a family member.
Thomas Garrett, 73, was arrested in 2012 and charged with forcible lewd act on a juvenile victim and one charge for a lewd act on a child. The child he is accused of molesting lives next door to him in Chula Vista.
In 2013, six charges were filed against him involving the same alleged victim, including a charge that carries a maximum of term of life in prison.
Garrett is now facing additional charges involving a second alleged victim who is a family member. The alleged abuse happened when the victim was between the ages of five and eight years old.
At the preliminary hearing Wednesday for his retrial, a judge will decide if there is enough evidence for Garrett to stand trial again.
A judge previously threw out an original case's conviction and ordered a new trial due to jury misconduct.
The alleged 10-year-old victim came forward to her mother in 2012 with the accusations.
Garrett, who is also a former firefighter, has denied all allegations and his attorney says there is no physical evidence. He is currently out on bail.
The mother of one of the alleged victim has tried to obtain a restraining order against him, but wasn't approved because a criminal protective order is already in place stating Garrett can't come within 100 yards of the alleged victim.
