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Teenager describes rape at Albuquerque juvenile lockup
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A teenaged sexual predator described his dream about raping a boy then carried out his fantasy on a new roommate in the state's juvenile lockup, the state's key witness testified in a Children's Court trial.
The witness, Adam Landon, 16, told the jury Wednesday that the victim, who was 15 at the time, was raped after he performed oral sex on his roommates.
The accused predator, who is also described as the ringleader in the attack, has been identified in court as Darnyle Pioche, now 16. He was 15 at the time of the attack.
Landon quoted Pioche as saying, "Look, he's the kid from my dream" when the victim arrived at the Youth Diagnostic and Development Center in September 2006.
Pioche promised to protect the victim and give him new shoes in exchange for the sexual acts, Landon said.
Pioche has entered a no-contest plea to kidnapping and two counts of criminal sexual penetration. He is awaiting a decision on whether he will be sentenced as an adult.
In a plea agreement, Landon promised to testify about the sexual attack in the room the four boys shared at YDDC, 4000 Edith Blvd. N.E.
Landon was sentenced to YDDC until he is age 21 for his plea to conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
He admitted that he didn't help the victim get out of the room that night and did not alert the staff to what was happening.
Landon said if he had gone for help, the staff "probably would have moved" the victim and he wouldn't have been raped.
Landon said the attack took place after lights out when he was locked down in his room with Pioche, the new roommate and fellow inmate Augustine Chavez.
Landon said he and Chavez participated because they feared Pioche, and said Pioche told the victim to have oral sex with each of them after Pioche was through with him.
"No one forced him," Landon said of the victim.
Prosecutor Nancy Neary asked Landon how the victim was feeling. "Scared," was his answer.
The jury heard Landon's testimony Wednesday in the trial of Chavez, who was indicted on kidnapping, criminal sexual penetration and other charges.
Chavez is the only one of the teens to go to trial. His attorney, Daniel Salazar, said Chavez did not commit a crime and that he was a victim himself in a prison system that failed to protect him.
The victim also testified in Chavez's trial this week, but Children's Court Judge John Romero closed the courtroom to the public to protect the boy from further harm and embarrassment.
The 2006 rape was the first ever reported at the YDDC and focused attention on safety issues — including staff shortages, excessive overtime hours and crowded conditions — and violence among the youth and staff.
The rape victim's mother settled a lawsuit against the state, in which she claimed YDDC staff failed to protect her son and placed him in a room with known violent offenders. She said a $150,000 trust has been set up for her son as a result of the lawsuit.
YDDC officials have denied the allegations and introduced new reform efforts in the juvenile justice system to improve conditions.

