A teenager describes in detail a long, painful period during which his mother faced abuse from an intimate partner. Over four years, the youth, who is now sixteen, gradually disclosed the ordeal, culminating in a public testimony before the court after an additional two months of legal proceedings. In a disturbing episode from April 2021, an adult defendant was reported for masturbating while the victim slept in the room. In this case, the Zaragoza State Court sentenced José Javier Cuadra, a 53-year-old Spanish national, to four years in prison for the repeated sexual abuse of a child under thirteen. The judgment also includes compensation for the victim and imposes a 6,000 euro payment, plus a protective distance order prohibiting contact within 200 meters for six years. The case was pursued by both the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Special Prosecutor’s Office, with lawyer Francisco Javier Navarro representing the prosecution. Originally, prosecutors had sought a five-year prison term, but the court delivered a tailored verdict based on the evidence presented during the trial.
Earlier, the community witnessed how the offender began the abuse with a troubling pattern. He bathed while the girl was in the shower, made explicit comments about her body and genitals, and, during the hearing held in April, openly joked about her breasts. The actions escalated to touching and coercive conduct, creating a climate of fear and confusion for the minor. In a brazen violation of boundaries, he even used sexual devices and left a device showing explicit material accessible on an iPad. When the minor described a relationship with a boyfriend, the accused pressed for details about her sexual life, asking questions like whether she had performed oral sex or engaged in sexual activity with her partner.
Throughout this period, the victim kept silent, fearing the defendant’s influence and the volatility he displayed. Her parents, who are divorced, remained unaware of much of what happened until she found the courage to speak. The minor’s wish for safety and stability led to a custody arrangement that granted her father sole custody and a flexible visitation plan with her mother. This fractured family dynamic added another layer of vulnerability, making the truth harder to uncover but all the more essential for the victim’s protection and well-being.
During January 2021, when the defendant was left alone with the victim, he exploited the situation to initiate a troubling act—masturbating in the bedroom as she slept. The girl woke with fear and hurried to exit the room, a moment that would become a turning point in the case. In the days that followed, she confided in her psychologist, initially withholding the full details until late March. By then, the defendant had filed a formal complaint with the National Police, which set the legal wheels in motion for a thorough investigation and eventual courtroom confrontation.
The Third Section judges described the teen’s account as “absolutely believable,” noting the spontaneous nature of the disclosure, the absence of any evident hostility toward the defendant, and the precision and coherence of the narrative. They also considered corroboration from independent professionals who evaluated the testimony. In particular, one psychologist affirmed that the victim’s account met the criteria for credibility. The expert described how the January 2021 incident triggered heightened anxiety and a cascade of recollections, prompting the victim to list the ten most distressing experiences in her life, including incidents of harassment. In a group session, she articulated everything that had occurred, and the professionals confirmed signs of self-harm linked to the psychological distress she endured. This professional testimony contributed significantly to the court’s assessment of the case and helped establish a clear picture of the impact on the victim’s mental health.