Court upholds pretrial detention for man accused of abusing stepdaughter

A man accused of sexually abusing his stepdaughter will remain in pretrial detention after an appellate court upheld the decision. The court confirmed the order, which mandates the accused remain incarcerated until November 2026.

The investigation, led by Prosecutor Maximiliano Sosa, details a disturbing pattern of abuse that allegedly began when the victim was just three years old. According to the prosecution, the abuse continued over many years, with the victim only confronting her abuser around age 12. The victim's mother was aware of the abuse a year prior to the formal complaint but reportedly urged her daughter to remain silent, stating the accused was "the sustainer of the house."

Further complicating the case, the accused allegedly sent messages seeking forgiveness from both his own phone and the victim's mother's phone. After the complaint was filed, the victim and accused reportedly encountered each other, during which he allegedly shouted insults at her. Prosecutors also noted that the accused has stopped providing financial support to his other son, which they described as a "punishment" for the denunciation.

The defense had appealed the pretrial detention, arguing it was disproportionate. They highlighted that the accused had complied with all previous summons, that his primary statement had already been taken, and that there were no concrete risks justifying continued detention. The defense also pointed out that previous restraining orders had expired without new incidents, proposing less severe measures like a curfew or house arrest. However, the prosecution argued that further investigative steps are necessary and that the accused could interfere with the investigation.

“

castigo