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  Jury Picked in Danbury Child Sex-Assault Case

By John Pirro
News Times
September 28, 2011

http://www.newstimes.com/policereports/article/Jury-picked-in-Danbury-child-sex-assault-case-2193790.php

DANBURY -- According to his pastor, Enrique Fajardo was a beloved member of the congregation who regularly volunteered for whatever jobs needed to be done, whether it was removing snow from the parking lot, painting the church, or installing new carpets and air conditioning.

But Danbury police say the 33-year-old Morris Street man is a predator who sexually abused a young female relative for nearly five years, almost as long as he had been a member of the Iglesia Jesus es El Camino on White Street.

On Wednesday, attorneys in state Superior Court completed jury selection for Fajardo's trial, which is scheduled to begin on Oct. 11.

The Ecuadorean immigrant, who investigators were told is in the country illegally, is accused of second-degree sexual assault, illegal sexual contact, and risk of injury to a minor.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and has been incarcerated on $150,000 bond since Youth Bureau detectives took him into custody in August, 2010.

Court documents say Fajardo, who owned a local roofing business, was arrested after the alleged victim told a cousin that Fajardo had repeatedly molested her. The cousin told her grandmother, and after the victim confirmed the story during a meeting with the pastor, Ramon Nunez, police were notified, according to court documents.

The girl told police the abuse began when she was 8 years old, Detective Sgt. Mark Williams said in the arrest warrant affidavit.

In a letter to the court that was written shortly after Fajardo was charged, Nunez called the married father of two children a "very friendly, altruistic and responsible person" who worked hard to provide for his family and who regularly donated his time and labor to the church and to other members of the congregation.

"In our church, everybody loves Enrique. We are very sad that he is going through this situation," Nunez wrote.

Jury selection before Judge Robin Pavia took two days. Assistant State's Attorney Sharmese Hodge and defense lawyer James Diamond agreed on four jurors Tuesday, and completed the panel, consisting of six regular jurors and two alternates, Wednesday afternoon.

Contact: jpirro@newstimes.com

 
 

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