HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -
The preliminary hearing for a Madison County attempted rape suspect wrapped up Wednesday morning.
Michael Garza went before Judge Austin at the Madison County Courthouse.
Garza is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage woman, who was closing up shop at a coffee shop on Highway 72 near Madison last month.
Three witnesses testified about the attempted rape case against Garza.
The first witness for this preliminary hearing was the lead investigator for the Madison County Sheriff's Department.
He laid out details from the night of January 24th when a teen girl was closing up at Hastings Coffee Shop and was attacked as she walked to her car. The victim said she was choked, thrown to the ground and assaulted by a man wearing a black bandana over his face.
The investigator graphically told the court the girl was found in a pool of her own blood.
After the victim picked Michael Garza out of a lineup, he was arrested.
On the stand, the investigator told the court they found Garza with scratches on his face and arms, and searched his room and found clothes fitting the description from the victim with a bloody like substance on a black bandana.
He told the court he looked at video from 21 surveillance cameras from surrounding businesses and not one caught the attack.
Garza's boss from Knuckleheads and a co-worker also took the stand.
The defense for Garza said he has an alibi; video does show Garza at his job as a cook at Knucklehead's Sports Pub the same night as the attack.
His manager took the stand saying Garza was at work that night. The date is accurate on the video but the time is about two to three hours off and no one can pinpoint when Garza left work - not even a co-worker who also took the stand that said he too worked alongside Garza that night.
The investigator added when Garza said he was at work, he was also caught on video down the street past the coffee shop at a nearby gas station.
Forensic evidence is still being analyzed in the case but one more item is under scrutiny: surveillance video. Investigators say the date on the video is accurate but the time on the video doesn't add up.
Garza's case was bound over to the grand jury.
Garza's attorney asked for his bond to be reduced for hardship reasons. The judge denied that request.
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Michael Garza appears before a judge on Wednesday for his prelimary hearing. He is accused of attempted rape and sexual assault against a teenage girl.
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