Boy says officials ignored abuse claims

SANTA FE (KRQE) - The teen that exposed what could be a prolific sexual predator claims he tried to alert authorities about the man more than a year before investigators took any action.

Police arrested Jacob Pinto, 43, in March at his home in Santa Fe. He faces multiple charges related to alleged exploitation of children.

Detectives said a video that recently surfaced was shot by Pinto in 2010.  On it a 15-year-old boy without a shirt could be seen lying on a carpeted floor in Pinto’s apartment.

The victim in that video has now filed a petition to be released from juvenile lockup. One of the crimes that helped put him there was when he broke into his accused abuser's home twice in 2010.

The victim claims he broke into Pinto’s home the first time to steal a camcorder that police said had video evidence of the sexual abuse. The teen claims he attempted a second break-in to get pictures of half-naked boys he saw inside the home to support his case against Pinto.

However, a neighbor saw the boy and called police. The victim claims the day he was arrested he tried to tell the arresting officer of the alleged abuse.

Santa Fe police said there is now an internal investigation into why that officer did not follow up with those allegations. Police said at that time the teen never mentioned the video.

However, in the petition the teen claims that several people including his defense attorney, an assistant district attorney, possibly two juvenile probation officers and even a judge knew about the video before January 2011.

“We would speculate maybe six, seven people had knowledge of video or saw the video,” police Lt. Louis Carlos said.

Carlos said that was before police were told about the evidence.

“Our office did not get a copy until January 2012,” he added.

Weeks later the investigation into Pinto exploded.

According to the petition, the boy took a plea deal for the break-in charges and was put on probation.

He claims he violated that probation because he was hurt and distraught over his claims being ignored. Because of that, the teen says he should be let out.

The state Children, Youth and Families Department disputes the teen's story that he told a probation officer about the rape a year and a half ago.

The Santa Fe District Attorney’s Office has not responded to a request for comment from KRQE News 13.

Police said they have pictures of about 12 children found at Pintos home that they still have not identified. They are asking any possible victims of Pinto to come forward.