Crystal Gutierrez and Chris Gilson with your evening headlines …
The Mesa del Sol development south of the Albuquerque Sunport …
The National Weather Service is warning of flood threat from a …
Advertisement
Opening statements made in Sandoval trial
Updated: Friday, 11 Jan 2013, 10:03 AM MST
Published : Thursday, 10 Jan 2013, 5:59 PM MST
ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Opening statements and testimony were made Thursday in the trial of the man police and prosecutors have called the "Arroyo Molester."
Genaro Sandoval is accused of a series of sexual attacks on young boys in Albuquerque's northeast arroyos.
Now he is on trial for one of those cases, the rape of an 11-year-old boy in 2003.
In opening statements, prosecutors outlined how Sandoval allegedly targeted his victim and how DNA in this case could play a huge role.
Prosecutors were up first, outlining the events of that August 2003 day. They say the 11-year-old victim was walking home from school near the Embudito Arroyo in northeast Albuquerque. Prosecutors also say Sandoval approached the boy, asking him to spray paint the phrase "matt sucks" on the bridge.
"The guy keeps nagging and nagging and nagging, so he tells him he's going to pay him ten bucks and finally gives in," Lisa Trabaudo, Deputy District Attorney, said in opening statements.
The prosecution says Sandoval then asked the boy to 'moon' his video camera for more money. They say, that's when Sandoval raped the boy at gunpoint. The boy ran home, with the money in hand, to tell his siblings and parents what happened.
DNA taken from the victim's clothing was matched to Sandoval four years later in 2007.
When they had their turn for opening statements, Sandoval's attorney told the jury the DNA and the facts don't match up.
"The case is going to focus on the science of this DNA and where it came from," criminal attorney Joseph Riggs told the jury. "If the DNA was correct, it would support all of the other pieces of evidence."
Sandoval is facing six charges, including first degree rape and kidnapping. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.
Opening statements were followed by the first witnesses on Thursday.
 | With KASA.com's commenting system, you don't need to register. You can login with an existing Facebook, Yahoo!, Google, or Twitter account and more. |
Enter the Hole-in-One Golf Contest
Just pick the golfers you think will finish 1st through 10th for each of the …
Enter the Auto Race Challenge Contest
Pick the 10 drivers you think will finish 1st through 10th for each race and …
Police say a shoplifter in metro Atlanta had particularly sticky fingers for …
See the various types of tax-deductible organizations recognized by the IRS
Ore. teen accused of planning…
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon teenager intended to blow up his school in a plot "forged and inspired by …
An Interstate 5 bridge over a river collapsed north of Seattle, dumping two …
Advertisement
Advertisement