Sierra LaMar suspect's father convicted

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SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- The father of a California man charged with killing Sierra LaMar was convicted of child rape, offering a glimpse into the family's dysfunction.

Genaro Garcia Fernandez, 51, father of Antolin Garcia-Torres, was convicted Wednesday after two days of deliberations. Prosecutors argued Fernandez molested a female relative for years starting when the girl was 7, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

Garcia-Torres is accused of kidnapping LaMar, 15, of Morgan Hill, Calif., and killing her, though LaMar's body has never been found. A Bay Area search never turned up evidence of the girl's body after she left for school but never arrived, www.SFWeekly.com reported.

Prosecutors say the Fernandez conviction won't be an issue at Garcia-Torres' trial and jurors likely won't be told of it, but the newspaper noted his harsh upbringing could form an argument for a more lenient sentence if Garcia is convicted.

LaMar disappeared in March. Police found her DNA in Garcia's car, the newspaper said.