ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Opening statements took place in the trial of 47-year-old Danny Aldaz on Tuesday morning. Aldaz, a former Albuquerque Public Schools teacher, is accused of sexually assaulting one of his students.
Tuesday’s proceedings mark the first accuser’s case to move forward to trial.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we will provide you with more, more than enough evidence to convict the defendant of these despicable crimes,” Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said.
“You’re going to hear her testify about things that happened that other accounts are going to tell you didn’t happen, just didn’t,” Alexandra Jones, Aldaz’s attorney, said.
Aldaz is facing five counts and is accused of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl during his time as a teacher at Valle Vista Elementary School.
Prosecuting for the State, Sam Bregman told the jury Tuesday that Aldaz had a closet in his classroom where he abused the victim.
“It was in that closet where the defendant committed the crime of criminal sexual penetration of a child under thirteen,” Bergman said.
The Defense suggests that the State will not have enough evidence to convince the jury that Aldaz is guilty. They argue that there is not enough physical evidence or DNA evidence to convict Aldaz.
They also argue that the victim’s accusations are inconsistent.
“You won’t have any DNA evidence, no photographic evidence of anything that corroborates abuse,” Jones said.
The trial is expected to last through the week. Aldaz was initially facing a 32-count indictment, accused of crimes against multiple children. A judge has since split those cases into separate trials.
