Fathers & Families founder's child sex abuse trial enters second week in Stockton

Aaron Leathley, The Record
Updated ·1 min read
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Sammy Nunez, founder and onetime director of the now-defunct nonprofit Fathers & Families of San Joaquin, gives a presentation in 2018. A trial in a case accusing Nunez of sexually assaulting a child between 2001 and 2006 is ongoing at San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton.
Sammy Nunez, founder and onetime director of the now-defunct nonprofit Fathers & Families of San Joaquin, gives a presentation in 2018. A trial in a case accusing Nunez of sexually assaulting a child between 2001 and 2006 is ongoing at San Joaquin County Superior Court in Stockton.

The child sexual assault trial against the founder of Fathers & Families of San Joaquin finally under way.

Samuel "Sammy" Nunez, 48, will appear at 1:30 p.m. Monday in a downtown Stockton courtroom to resume his trial, which enters its second week. Monday's hearing was a step toward wrapping up the testimony and handing the case over to the jury.

Nunez was arrested in May 2021 by Manteca police in Weston Ranch, and charged in San Joaquin County Superior Court with continuous sexual abuse of a child and lewd acts with a child.

The criminal complaint against Nunez identified the child as a member of the founder's family. The abuse began more than two decades ago, starting in 2001 when the child was 8, the complaint claims. Prosecutors say it continued until 2006, when the child was 12.

Nunez and his wife started the Stockton-based nonprofit Fathers & Families of San Joaquin in 2006 to guide parents and at-risk youth, providing gang intervention, resources and other services.

The founder's arrest shook the organization and community. Nunez was fired, and Fathers & Families ultimately collapsed less than a month after his arrest, in June 2021, The Record reported.

"Since the executive director's arrest and termination, the organization has lost millions of dollars in funding and partnerships that are critical to success," the nonprofit said in a statement at the time.

Nunez has remained behind bars at San Joaquin County Jail throughout the hearings and now the trial. The trial is scheduled to continue into 9 a.m. Tuesday.

This is a developing story. Check back at Recordnet.com for updates.

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers public safety. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Trial of Fathers & Families founder on child sex abuse charges unfolds