Golden – Opening statements and testimony began today in the trial of Joseph Renander, a former daycare operator accused of sexually assaulting six children in his care.
As Jefferson County prosecutors tried to coax testimony from an 8-year-old alleged victim in a sex assault case, it was apparent the child didn’t want to talk.
The girl answered several questions saying “I kind of don’t know,” and “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Deputy District Attorney Krislene Lorenz continued with her direct, yet gentle, approach.
“Can you tell me why you don’t want to tell?” Lorenz asked.
“It makes me have bad dreams,” the girl answered.
Renander has been charged with 22 felony counts, including multiple counts of sex assault of a child by a person in a position of trust and sex assault of a child pattern of abuse.
All of the alleged victims, including three sisters, are expected to testify at the trial, which could run as long as three weeks.
The girls or their parents will not be identified by The Denver Post because they are alleged victims and juveniles.
