At around 4:00 p.m., the court declared a mistrial in the case of Christopher Rodriguez due to a hung jury. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict after deliberation.

Around 1:30 p.m. on Friday, the jury began deliberating to reach a verdict.

Closing arguments began Friday morning around 9 a.m., with both parties reviewing their evidence before the jury one last time.

Evelyn Pineda-Dugay, who worked at UCLA ECE for 23 years, said on Friday that Rodriguez taught both of her children and is “one of the most joyous people” she knows.

Alma Lopez, who worked for the UCLA ECE Krieger Center for 17 years and spent two years working in the same classroom as Rodriguez, was called to the stand.

The defense presented images including one email from Child A’s mother to Mary Freund as well as four photos from visits to the school featuring a blue stick, the bathrooms and the loft structure on which children play.

During Child B’s forensic interview, they had difficulty remembering the names and appearances of their teachers but said the teachers do wear gloves while helping children in the bathroom.

In their interview, Child A said they understand that Rodriguez left work because he did something wrong. They detailed their experience being laid upon by Rodriguez during naptime as well as his touching of their private parts on five occasions on the same day.

Jennifer Abrams Waxler, attorney for The People of the State of California, showed recordings of Child A’s, Child B’s and Child C’s individual forensic interviews at Stuart House – the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office’s center for child sexual abuse treatment – which took place Jan.

Another teacher at the Krieger Center who worked with Rodriguez beginning December 1, 2024, said Child A approached her while crying and without the leggings she wore in the morning.