The conviction of Palm Valley's former police chief sentenced on charges of tampering with government records was reversed, according to court records.

Alvaro Garcia was arrested in November 2018 and was found guilty on Feb. 2023 of three counts of tampering with government records.

According to previous reports, Garcia was accused of falsifying and submitting documents saying three officers took a training course in person. Garcia was reportedly an instructor for that training course that required 10 officers to be in the training for Garcia to get paid $850.

The state said three officers that allegedly took the training course were not in attendance, but Garcia submitted paperwork that showed all 10 officers were present.

On Dec. 5, 2024, the 13th Court of Appeals ruled that Garcia’s conviction be overturned due to insufficient evidence, according to a filing.

Court records show Garcia was reimbursed over $3,300 in court costs, fees and fines tied to the trial on Tuesday, Feb. 18.