12-year-old girl testifies against her former music teacher

<p>Clutching a stuffed animal, a 12-year-old Petaluma girl testified Thursday that she was sexually molested by her 68-year-old drum teacher who called her princess during lessons at his home studio.</p><p>The girl, identified only as Jane Doe, testified that Dominick J. Godino, also of Petaluma, rubbed her chest and genitals as she was seated before one of his two electric drum sets in 2009.</p><p>Speaking in barely audible tones, she described how Godino's physical contact with her increased over about a half-dozen lessons from kisses on the top of the head to caressing her legs to touching her “private parts.”</p><p>She said Godino urged her not to tell anyone because he would have to quit teaching “and that would break his heart.” But after the last lesson she told her mother anyway, she said.</p><p>“I was small at the time so I didn't really know that it wasn't, like, correct,” testified the girl, who is now in seventh grade. “That it wasn't really right.”</p><p>Godino, who is married and has a son, listened from the defense table. He is free on $200,000 bail.</p><p>He's charged with committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and sexual penetration of a minor who is more than 10 years younger than he is. </p><p>Coupled with an enhancement for substantial sexual conduct, Godino faces about 10 years in state prison if he is convicted, prosecutor Jason Riehl said.</p><p>He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.</p><p>The girl's testimony came on the opening day of trial and followed testimony from her mother. She girl described herself as an only child who liked music from the band Green Day and had also taken lessons in guitar, piano and trumpet.</p><p>She received a drum set as a gift for her 9th birthday and took lessons with Godino on Saturdays starting in January 2009.</p><p>She testified that Godino began touching her legs on the second or third lesson. He also kissed her on the head, cheek and lips, she testified. On the last lesson, she testified that he put his fingers in her underwear and rubbed her chest. </p><p>The assaults were reported to police on Feb. 28, 2009. Godino was arrested March 5.</p><p>When pressed for details by Godino's lawyer, Jamie Thistlethwaite, the girl testified that she couldn't recall many things. She was unclear about when the kissing began or whether they were just pecks.</p><p>“I don't remember exactly what happened,” she said. “I just know that it did happen.”</p><p>Prosecutors expect to call some of Godino's other drum students to the stand when testimony continues Friday.</p>