Former Calallen ISD teacher convicted of sexually abusing a child denied new trial
A former Calallen ISD teacher found guilty of sexually abusing a child was denied his request for a new trial Monday.
Joseph Michael Sandoval, 40, of Portland, was found guilty in March on one count of continuous sexual assault of a child under the age of 14 and was sentenced to serve 35 years of confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
The decision stems from a motion filed by Sandoval's San Antonio-based criminal defense attorneys, Dante Dominguez and Erica Matlock, on April 8.
In the motion, Dominguez and Matlock claimed Sandoval's trial counsel, Abel Cavada, failed to provide effective assistance during his trial.
The 17-page motion stated Cavada failed to "conduct an independent investigation of the facts," interview witnesses, present evidence to discredit witnesses or exonerate Sandoval, and "consult or retain an expert" in preparation for Sandoval's trial.
The motion also stated Dominguez and Matlock have since consulted with experts who dispute testimony delivered by the prosecution's witnesses during Sandoval's trial.
117th District Judge Sandra Watts denied the motion Monday evening, stating, "I fully believe in the jury system."
She acknowledged that Sandoval was likely to take his case to the court of appeals.
"We'll see how my papers are graded upstairs," Watts told the court.
Kailey E. Hunt covers breaking news and public safety in South Texas. Help support more local coverage with a subscription at caller.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Portland man convicted of child sex abuse denied new trial
