Molestation, stabbing cases combined

By Matt Pordum

Friday, July 22, 2005 | 8:43 a.m.

Two cases were combined Thursday for a man accused of molesting his wife's 8-year-old daughter and later stabbing the girl's natural father in hopes of preventing him from attending a custody hearing.

Francisco Duran now faces one count each of lewdness with a child under the age of 14, sexual assault with a minor, battery with use of a deadly weapon and attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon.

Duran is scheduled for arraignment on the consolidated charges on Aug. 2 before District Judge Michael Cherry.

Duran is accused of molesting the girl in 2002 while her mother was in the shower, according to the police report. The girl told police in May 2004 she did not tell anyone at the time because she was scared.

The girl's aunt told police in July 2004 the girl told her about Duran molesting her and said the girl told her "she did not tell before because she was scared she would be taken away from her dad."

Duran has denied ever touching the girl and has declined to take a polygraph test.

The girl's mother has told police "she did not know what to believe" in regards to whether or not Duran molested her daughter, but said "she would like to think her daughter would have told her if she had any problems with Francisco."

When Duran heard the girl had talked to the police, he allegedly went to the home of the girl to confront her father over a custody hearing scheduled for the next day, according to the police report.

Upon arriving at the home, Duran began arguing with the father and punched him in the face before a fist fight turned wrestling match ensued, all in the presence of the now 10-year-old girl.

According to the report, Duran pulled out a knife and took it to the victim's throat and said "that if he went to court the next day, Duran would kill him." Before leaving, Duran stabbed the victim in the stomach and right hand.

Duran's alleged threat and attack, however, did not deter the father from making it to the custody hearing the next day. He showed up in court "heavily bandaged."

Duran and the girl's mother failed to show up at the hearing, and then-Family Court Judge Bob Gaston granted the father custody of his daughter and ordered no contact between the girl, her mother and Duran.