Teenager who accused her step-grandfather of sexually abusing her took the stand
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A therapy dog entered the courtroom Thursday to comfort and lay next to the teenager who prosecutors say was the victim of sex abuse by her step-grandfather, Rex Luna Garcia.
He is accused of appearing in her bedroom, mostly in the middle of the night and behaving badly. One night in August of 2015 she said she awoke chilly, missing her pajama bottoms.
"When it did happen and I woke up in the middle of the night and I didn't have my pants on or anything, I knew that was wrong and after I told my dad, I thought about the time he touched my chest and all the other things that have happened."
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The 15-year-old, who will not be identified because she is the victim of alleged sex crimes, said from the time she was around seven or eight years old, her step-grandfather would do things that she did not realize were inappropriate until she became older.
The defense attorney told jurors during opening statements the teen accuser has credibility issues.
Attorney Antonio Alvarez said the girl made up the story.
Earlier in the day the victim's father also testified about why he got a video camera to secretly record Garcia sneaking into his daughter's room.
"I was in shock. I didn't know how to process it and I wanted to be able to watch and also keep an eye on her and also if anything else occurred, I could see."
Jurors were also shown the complete recording of the defendant in the girl's room. At one point, he reaches under the covers briefly.
The girl said many times she pretended to be asleep or turned over.
