Syracuse, NY – A Syracuse man will stand trial in January on sexual abuse and attempted rape charges after a judge turned down his lawyer’s argument to dismiss the case. Attorney Charles Keller argued today before Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi that much time elapsed between when the victim first contacted police and when his client, Alberto Morales, 30, was...
Syracuse, NY – A Syracuse man will stand trial in January on sexual abuse and attempted rape charges after a judge turned down his lawyer’s argument to dismiss the case.
Attorney Charles Keller argued today before Onondaga County Judge Anthony Aloi that much time elapsed between when the victim first contacted police and when his client, Alberto Morales, 30, was indicted. Witnesses were getting hard to find and memories of those who could be located were fading, Keller said.
The complaint first was made in August, 2009. Morales was indicted in June on two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of attempted rape. He has pleaded not guilty, contending that his sexual activity with the victim was consensual, Keller said.
Aloi sided with prosecutors who said that the delay made it harder for them to locate witnesses, too.
The police were acting in good faith as they worked to complete their investigation, he said.
Aloi set Jan. 10 as the trial date.