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Sandra Yi ReportingThe trial began today for the Sunday school teacher accused of sexual abuse. The man was a primary teacher in his LDS congregation. Today the young victims testified in court.
A six-year old girl who was in kindergarten when the alleged abuse happened last year, told the court her primary teacher touched her in class while she was coloring a picture of Jesus. She said her teacher, Aaron Montoya, came up behind her and put his hand under her skirt and touched her privates. She used a doll to show the jury how he did it.
She said Montoya touched her a lot of times in the church classroom. Prosecutors asked, "Are you here because he really did or because someone told you to say that?" "He really did," she said.
The girl's brother also testified. He said he overheard his sister and another little girl talk about the alleged abuse while on the school bus. The boy then told his mother.
Montoya, who was a corrections officer, is charged with 10 first degree felonies for allegedly molesting nine girls between the ages of three and 11. Four of the charges, which stem from incidents at the church, are being tried together this week in Second District Court in Ogden.
The courtroom was filled with victims' family and friends. They did not walk to talk on camera.
Montoya's family also showed up today. His wife told KSL what is happening is unfortunate. No one wins in this case, she said.
The trial continues tomorrow.
