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OGDEN, Utah (AP) -- Aaron Marcos Montoya took the stand and denied putting his hand up the dresses of three young girls in his church Primary class.
Montoya, 33, of Syracuse, was the last witness to testify on the second day of his trial in 2nd District Court on four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. The charges stem from allegations about his actions in a Syracuse Primary class for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2004. He faces additional charges involving alleged misconduct on outings and at his home.
Montoya said he and his wife, Angela, were asked by church leaders to teach the class of 5- and 6-year-olds, and they took turns teaching.
"I didn't think I was a very good teacher," Montoya said.
The last class he taught was on Dec. 12, 2004. Montoya said he tied the bow on the dress of one of the two girls in class that day. Earlier in the year, he grabbed the ankle of another girl and put her foot on the floor because she had her feet on her chair, making her underwear visible, he said.
The Montoyas' 7-year-old son testified for the defense that he never saw his father put his hand up anyone's dress.
Two of the girls testified Monday and the third testified Tuesday. She said Montoya put his hand up her skirt and inside her underwear twice on Dec. 12, 2004. She said once was while she drew a picture of Jesus and the other time was when she said a prayer.
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
