The man accused of being the Chandler Rapist will be tried in Maricopa County. A judge recently dismissed defense attorneys' change of venue motion filed on behalf of Santana Batiz-Aceves, who stands accused of attacking half a dozen schoolgirls over a span of 18 months.
In a hearing last month, public defender Kirk Nurmi said court proceedings here could never be truly fair considering the media coverage of the crimes - both in amount and nature -and Batiz-Aceves' arrest in January.
But Judge Teresa A. Sanders ruled on April 9 that publicity over the crimes and arrest never rose to the high levels, as established by Arizona case law, to necessitate moving the trial.
Batiz-Aceves has been indicted on 47 charges, including kidnapping, child molestation and sexual abuse. He would face a possible sentence of at least 250 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
His next scheduled appearance is June 11.
