An Albuquerque man is now at the center of a deeply disturbing criminal investigation, accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting five adopted children over several years. Francisco Agosto, 40, faces a staggering 59 rape charges, along with nearly a dozen counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor, child abuse, and manufacturing child sexual abuse material, illustrating the grave nature and extensive scope of the allegations against him.
The charges against Agosto stem from alleged conduct that some of the children, who are also relatives, reported occurring as frequently as three times per week. These serious accusations range from second-degree to first-degree criminal sexual penetration, including offenses against a minor under the age of 13, highlighting the severe violation and trauma inflicted upon the victims.
Prosecutors vehemently sought Agosto’s detention until trial, asserting in a motion that his alleged “repulsive pattern of conduct involving sexual violence against children illustrates how the defendant is a serious danger to the victims and to any child unfortunate enough to be in his vicinity.” This legal argument underscored the perceived ongoing threat he poses to the community and particularly to vulnerable children.
A critical aspect of this case involves the fact that the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) was reportedly unaware of the children’s plight. This oversight occurred because Agosto and his husband fostered and adopted the children in Texas, and in cases of legal adoption occurring outside of New Mexico, interstate agreements are not always required, especially if the family does not receive an adoption subsidy.
For many of the child victims, police affidavits allege that the sexual abuse began when they were disturbingly young, between the ages of nine and eleven. Further compounding the horror, law enforcement reports indicate that Agosto sometimes filmed these egregious acts, adding another layer of trauma and violation to the children’s experiences.
The silence surrounding the abuse was eventually broken by one of the accusers, who bravely informed a detective, marking the first time she had confided in an adult about the alleged abuse. This courageous step was taken despite reported threats and coercion from Agosto, underscoring the immense courage required to speak out against such a perpetrator.
The severe and lasting impact of Agosto’s alleged actions on the victims’ mental health has been profoundly documented. The children reported suffering significantly, expressing fears associated with places where the rapes occurred and, tragically, experiencing suicidal thoughts, illustrating the deep psychological scars left by the sustained abuse.
Currently, Francisco Agosto remains detained in the Metropolitan Detention Center, following a state district judge’s order to hold him until his trial. This decision came more than two weeks after the initial criminal complaint was filed in Metropolitan Court and shortly after he was indicted by a grand jury in District Court, marking critical steps in the unfolding legal process.
This harrowing case raises significant concerns about the vulnerabilities within child protection systems, particularly concerning interstate adoptions and the potential for children to fall through jurisdictional cracks. It underscores the critical need for enhanced inter-agency communication, more rigorous oversight, and comprehensive support mechanisms to prevent such tragic and devastating instances of child sexual abuse in the future.
