DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – The chief detective in the sexual assault investigation into a former Deerfield Beach swim instructor testified Wednesday in the defendant's trial.
The defense attempted to poke holes in the investigation, including calling into question why the victims did not have a forensic physical exam and why their bathing suits were not confiscated as evidence and tested.
"It was made clear to me right away that the defendant was the only person that it could be," Detective Keith Gittens said.
Gittens confirmed to Francisco De Aragon's defense attorney that he believed that any kind of examination would have been inconclusive.
Video was also played for the jury Wednesday of the detective interviewing the victims.
"He was touching my bathing suit and then he went under … his hand, and then he touched my private," one girl said.
De Aragon is accused of touching three young girl's genitals while he was their swim instructor at the Deerfield Beach Aquatic Center.
Each girl testified Tuesday against De Aragon, saying they were scared when De Aragon molested them.
The victim's parents also testified, breaking down in tears as they recalled the conversations they had with their daughters.
"She's 6 years old, you know. And I feel like someone took my life away," one mother said.
Authorities said the victims do not know each other and do not attend the same school. Their accounts of De Aragon's actions were all similar.
De Aragon, who showed no emotion while the victims and their parents testified against him, turned down a plea deal Monday that would have sentenced him to 25 years in prison.
He now faces up to life in prison if a jury finds him guilty of sexual battery on a minor and lewd and lascivious molestation on a minor.