Albuquerque man accused of raping six children, giving five of them STDs

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An Albuquerque man accused of sexually assaulting six children, five of whom he allegedly infected with sexually transmitted diseases, faces several charges filed in Santa Fe County. Anthony Padilla, 30, is accused of raping children from two families, one in Albuquerque and one in Española, court records show.

Allegations of abuse by Padilla emerged after the Rio Rancho children’s mother became concerned about a health condition in
her 3-year-old daughter. The girl, her 8-year-old sister and 1-year-old brother tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases, records show. The woman said Padilla was a childhood friend and “couch surfer” whom she had allowed to stay at her home. He had watched her children while she was at work, she said.

Two Española children, a 2- and 3-year-old who are related to Padilla, also tested positive for gonorrhea and chlamydia at the time, according to court records. A sixth child, an 8-year-old girl from Española who also is related to Padilla, did not test positive for the illnesses but told investigators Padilla had been raping her and having sex with adults in front of her since 2015, when she was 4, records say.

Charges against Padilla involving these children — six counts of criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact and bribery of a witness — were filed in Santa Fe County under a pending plea agreement designed to resolve all the charges he faces, said his public defender, Cherylinn Gunning.

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/albuquerque-man-accused-of-raping-six-children-giving-five-of-them-stds/article_3fc5aea2-b42a-11ec-8fb3-8fe7816a0e91.html