Jury selection began Monday for the trial of a Cathedral City man accused of molesting an 8-year-old family member.
Joe Angel Cardoza, 44, could face life in prison if convicted of committing the offenses in August 2017.
Cardoza is charged with two counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old and one count each of sexual penetration of a minor and oral copulation of a child under 10 years old.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Kelly Hanson summoned multiple panels of prospective jurors to the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta for screening as to their availability and qualifications. Hanson will reconvene jury selection Tuesday. Opening statements are expected next week.
Cardoza is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center.
According to court papers, the child, identified only as a relative of the defendant, was allegedly assaulted several times while under his care.
Specific details were not available.
Cathedral City police were informed about the alleged assault less than a month after it happened, culminating in the defendant’s arrest.
Cardoza was initially able to post bond, but after an amended complaint was filed with additional charges, Cardoza’s bail was increased to seven figures, and he could not satisfy the surety, at which point he was booked back into jail, where he has been since April.
According to court records, Cardoza has a misdemeanor DUI conviction, but no felonies.
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