ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – He abused a child in an Albuquerque school classroom and was sentenced to 57 years in prison. There is more than one victim in this case.
Danny Aldaz and Albuqeurque Public Schools face a half dozen lawsuits for what he did. In one of those cases, a federal judge has ruled that the amount of money APS paid out in a lawsuit is not public information.
There are six cases filed against Danny Aldaz and Albuquerqeu Public School accusing both of failing to protect students. As of Friday, five are pending, with the latest being filed on Wednesday. Only one has been settled.
A public information request asked APS to disclose how much the settlement cost the district. But federal Judge Laura Fashing ordered that information not be released, despite the numerous cases against APS and Aldaz.
“It was in that closet where the defendant committed the crime of criminal sexual penetration of a child under thirteen,” said Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman. Aldaz was sentenced to 57 years after being found guilty of four counts of criminal sexual penetration for raping a 7-year-old in his classroom at Valle Vista Elementary multiple times between 2018 and 2019.
One of his victims told the court how his actions have negatively impacted her life. “This has affected my life so much that most days, I get scared to even walk through he’s school doors and it’s even harder for me to sit in a classroom and focus, because the first thing that my mind goes to is all of teh gruesome things that this man has done to me,” said on of Aldaz’s accusers.
Judge Fashing said the IPRA request was denied because she prohibited those involved from disclosing any details about the settlement, including the monetary amount. She also said that she is a federal judge and her orders supersede IPRA requests, adding that there is no provision in state statue that prohibits her from doing this.
Aldaz had several accusers and was facing four trials, but those charges were dismissed. He was a teacher for APS for a decade at Valle Vista and Helen Cordero Elementary. Aldaz is appealing for conviction and sentence.