A Columbia man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of first-degree rape.
Fifty-five-year-old Victor Garza was charged in connection to an April 2023 assault.
Court documents say the victim reported waking up to a stranger inside their apartment and told investigators they were assaulted while intoxicated.
Authorities say the victim suffered multiple injuries, including bruising and a black eye.
A forensic exam conducted at a hospital helped investigators develop a DNA profile, which was later matched to Garza.
Deputies interviewed him in 2024 and confirmed the match through additional DNA testing.
A Boone County jury charged Garza with first-degree rape in January 2025