Golden – A former day-care operator on trial in the alleged sexual assault of children in his care admitted to prosecutors Thursday that he downloaded child pornography – a line of questioning that hadn’t been anticipated.
Joseph Renander, who operated day-care centers in Golden and Lakewood before they were shut down, faces 22 felony counts based on accusations by six children.
During questioning by defense attorney David Juarez, Renander told the court he had drawn and sketched images of kids being inappropriately touched for books he produced. The books were given or loaned to parents to help guide them and teach their children about what’s appropriate and inappropriate, Renander said.
Juarez asked Renander if he had ever been aroused or excited when producing the images for the books.
Renander answered, “No.”
That line of questioning “opened the door” for prosecutors to delve deeper into how Renander gained images to sketch or trace for his books.
With the jury outside the courtroom, Deputy District Attorney Lisa Scanga asked the court about pursuing evidence authorities found on computers in Renander’s apartment, including hundreds of “hard core” images of child pornography.
District Judge Brooke Jackson ruled in favor of prosecutors.
“I’m afraid, to this court, it is very relevant now,” Jackson said.
Scanga asked Renander if he downloaded child pornography.
“On certain occasions, yes,” he said.
Child pornography was downloaded by Renander the same night he wrote comments into a journal he kept on “deviance,” Scanga said.
Scanga asked Renander if he was “worried” about being a pedophile.
“I was not worried that I was,” Renander said. “I was worried that I might become one.”
Earlier in the afternoon, Juarez asked Renander whether he had assaulted any of the children in the case in any way.
Renander answered “no” each time.
All the girls were younger than 9 at the time of the alleged assaults, which prosecutors said took place between 2001 and early 2005.
Renander told the jury he aided one of the girls by giving her extra help in reading because the child was struggling with the subject.
He wrote a letter to the girl’s schoolteacher about her difficulties to make sure the teacher was aware of the problem.
Juarez asked Renander if he was surprised by the accusations.
“Of course,” he said. “Because it never happened.”
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
