4 more charges of child sex abuse filed

FARMINGTON — Four more charges of aggravated sexual abuse of a child were filed Monday in 2nd District Court against an LDS Primary teacher.

Aaron Marcos Montoya, 32, is now charged with nine counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child, all first-degree felonies. The charges involve eight alleged victims.

During a brief court hearing Monday, bail for Montoya was raised to $500,000. He appeared before Judge Darwin Hansen in a red jail-issued shirt and pants, a white T-shirt and blue sneakers with no laces. His legs were shackled and his hands handcuffed in front of him.

Montoya appeared almost to be in a daze during the hearing, as if he didn't believe what was happening to him. When Hansen asked him questions to verify his name and address, Montoya answered with a "yes" that was barely audible even with the assistance of a microphone.

Several family members of some of the alleged victims attended the hearing. Outside the courtroom after the hearing, several of them approached two people who were reportedly Montoya's parents in an apparent attempt to talk to them.

The very brief private conversation ended when an unidentified woman said, "We believe he's innocent," and walked away.

The new charges filed Monday involve four girls between the ages of 3 and 11. All of the alleged incidents except one happened in 2004, according to court documents.

In the summer of 2000, Montoya allegedly fondled an 11-year-old girl while riding a personal watercraft at Pineview Reservoir in Weber County, court documents state.

The other alleged assaults happened either in Montoya's house or his car, according to court documents. None of the new incidents involved Montoya's position as a Primary teacher or as a Salt Lake County sheriff's corrections officer, though five charges filed last week do involved his church calling.

In those cases, Montoya allegedly touched four girls inappropriately, some while they were praying in Primary and others while they were coloring religious pictures during Primary class at an LDS ward house in Syracuse, according to court documents.

A second protective order was issued during Monday's hearing, barring Montoya from contacting at least two of the new alleged victims. Another protective order was filed last week on behalf of the original victims.

In addition, representatives from the Davis County Attorney's Office said Monday that at least three more girls were being interviewed as potential victims.

Syracuse police Chief Brian Wallace said one of the other cases involved involved a girl who is now lived in Texas and two others who were on vacation while police were interviewing potential victims last week.

Montoya indicated in court Monday that he had retained the services of defense attorney Ed Brass to represent him. His next court date was scheduled for Jan. 5, at which time Hansen said Brass could address the issue of whether Montoya should have a lower bail.

Montoya was placed on administrative leave from the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office last week pending the outcome of his case.

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