“Daniel Dorado didn’t just have a pattern. He didn’t just have a plan. He had a formula,” DA Jessica Coto told jurors in her opening statement on December 2nd, at the start of the trial of Daniel Dorado. Dorado, owner of the Italian restaurant Voce Del Mare, is accused of 35 felonies, including the sexual assault eight women in a span of nine years. 

Dorado is said to have met his victims either at his restaurant or other locations, for job interviews and dates from dating websites. He then allegedly offered them “pink drinks” and after drinking them, the victims said they passed out and would wake up to Dorado with them or sexually assaulting them. DA Coto also claimed that he may have used some form of “date drugs,” pointing out how the victims became intoxicated and woke up in different places.

DA Coto added to her statements about Dorado, “His formula included vulnerable victims, plus a meet-up suggestion at his turf, where he could control the environment.” However, Dorado’s defense lawyer, Kim Santini, stated to the jury that there is “No reasonable evidence that Mr. Dorado intimidated them, or made them feel self conscious.” Santini also said that any sexual contact was either consensual or nonexistent. Santini denied any drugging allegations, saying none of the accusers tested positive for date drugs, and were probably disoriented from the excessive amounts of alcohol they chose to consume.

Junior DeAndre Vaz said, “It’s weird that I used to go there.” Senior Bridget Ballo said, “ I believe that if Dorado is guilty the justice system will hopefully prevail by giving Dorado a long sentence to think about the lives he had ruined.” Whatever happens, justice will be served.