In the ongoing trial of former Vacaville attorney James Glenn Haskell, a secretly recorded phone call was played by the prosecution, shedding light on the allegations of child abuse against him. The call, known as a pretext call, was initiated by investigators and featured a conversation between Haskell and Desire Dominique, a family friend and member of the same Mormon church ward.
During the call, Dominique informed Haskell that his oldest adopted daughter had accused him of touching her inappropriately. Haskell initially expressed confusion and denied any knowledge of the allegations. However, he quickly assured Dominique that there would be “absolutely no touching” when the children returned home and that the daughter’s wishes would be respected.
Haskell repeatedly apologized and expressed his love for his daughter, stating that he wanted to be a better father and support her. He also mentioned that if she decided to return home, he would respect her boundaries and ensure her safety. Dominique emphasized the daughter’s need for familial support and her reluctance to reenter the foster care system.
The trial, taking place in Solano County Superior Court, involves 16 counts of alleged crimes, including sexual assault, that occurred between October 2018 and early February 2022. The children involved in the case were eventually removed from the Haskell home. If convicted, Haskell faces two life prison terms and will be required to register as a sex offender.
During the cross-examination, defense attorney Thomas Maas chose not to address the pretext call but instead presented a video segment showing a pinata party in the Haskell’s backyard. The video did not capture the alleged incident of Haskell striking his son on the head, as testified by Dominique. However, Dominique maintained that Haskell had displayed anger and engaged in verbal abuse towards his son on multiple occasions.
1 Response
It is truly disheartening to hear about cases of child abuse, especially when it involves someone in a position of trust like an attorney. The fact that a secretly recorded phone call was played in court shows the seriousness of the allegations against James Glenn Haskell. It is crucial that justice is served and that the truth comes to light for the sake of the victims involved. Child abuse is a grave issue that should never be taken lightly, and it is important for society to stand up against such heinous acts